Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Croydon]
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All Groups Boys and Girls 2645 - 22%
UNCLEANLINESS
Cleanliness inspections are carried out by the School Nurses
each term in every school, so that all pupils are brought under
review. The finding of slight infestation in unexpected offenders
leads to the issue of an informal letter to the parents, setting
out a method of treatment and offering a supply of suitable
emulsion. The appropriate formal notices are sent to the parents
of children previously found verminous. Steel combs are sold or
loaned where necessary. Endeavour is made to serve notices on the
parents by the School Nurse personally, so that she has opportunity
to emphasise that infestation may be a family complaint
and not limited to the school child, and the need for constant
cleanliness to prevent relapses. A cleansing station is provided
for the treatment of scabies and very occasionally deals with
other verminous conditions.
Number of children inspected for Cleanliness
(first inspection) 66,862
Number of children inspected (subsequent
inspections) 990
Number of children found unclean (first
inspection) (570 occasions of infestation) 259
Number of occasions in which children found
unclean (subsequent inspections) 178
At the primary inspections vermin were found in 31 and nits
alone in 456 children. On these inspections 0.7 per cent, of the
children showed evidence of infestation as against 0.6 in 1955
20 children attended the Cleansing Station for treatment.
RETURN SHOWING THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN SEEN AT ROUTINE MEDICAL INSPECTIONS DURING 1956 WHO HAVE UNDERGONE TONSILLECTOMY
Entrants | Boys 164 - 8.2% Girls 180 - 8.9% | All Entrants | 344-8.6% | |
8-9 yrs. | Boys 550 - 25.8% Girls 458 - 24.3% | All 8-9 yrs. | 1008-25.1% | All Boys 1368-22.4 |
Inter " | Boys 225 - 32.5% Girls 213 - 27.2% | All Inter | 438-29.7% | All Girls 1271-21.55 |
Leavers | Boys 429 - 33.8% Girls 426 - 33.6% | All Leavers | 855-33.7% |