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not heeded, and it is fortunately some years since diphtheria existed
in Enfield in serious, or in epidemic form. I feel that the public
have been lulled into a false sense of security, and I would again
urge parents to take advantage of this safe and successful method
of obtaining protection from a disease so serious as diphtheria.
DETECTION AND PREVENTION OF SPREAD OF
INFECTIOUS DISEASE.
Close co-operation exists between the School Medical Department
and the Public Health Department, whereby when either
becomes aware of infectious disease in any school, house or district,
the other department is informed. Joint action is therefore possible
in preventing the spread of infectious disease.
VERMIN.
Of 4,112 children examined at Routine Inspection 8 were found
to have vermin in their hair, and 201 had nits—i.e., 5.8 per cent had
unclean heads.
No child was found to have body vermin.
THE WORK OF THE SCHOOL NURSES.
There are five school nurses. One is attached to each of the
three Treatment Clinics, which she attends daily for the treatment
of minor ailments; one of them is also in charge of the Aural Clinic.
Each nurse is responsible for the following up of children attending
her clinic, for the cleanliness of the scholars attending the schools
which feed her clinic, and for any visits to those schools besides those
for head inspections. In addition to these duties, three of the school
nurses attend in turn at the Routine Medical Inspection to assist
the Medical Officers. The fifth nurse is employed mainly on
dental work assisted by a dental attendant.