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Verrucas
The special clinic set up at the Weston Park Medical Centre to deal with plantar warts was
delayed in its development because of the absence on sick leave of the medical officer concerned.
The clinic has now resumed operation, and it is hoped to develop two more clinics, thus enabling
children to obtain treatment more quickly with less absence from school.
The survey carried out by a medical officer at four Haringey schools showed that plantar warts
are largely the result of use of swimming pools. The wearing of plimsolls during physical education
sessions in the schools gave no significant protection against plantar warts, nor was there
satisfactory proof that warts were transmitted to other children through bare foot physical education.
I therefore withdrew my objections to bare foot physical exercise in Haringey schools.
Ringworm of the Scalp
During the year 16 cases occurred in five schools throughout the Borough. As in previous
years, we are grateful to St. John's Hospital for Diseases of the Skin, who carry out screening
procedure to discover any further cases which may arise through contact. Doubtful cases were
referred to the consultant dermatologist at the Prince of Wales's Hospital for further investigation,
The great majority of the cases occurred in immigrant children.
Weight Watching Clinics
In recent times problems of nutrition have tended to highlight the overweight rather than the
underweight child. In order both to help school children and to investigate the problem further, a
weight watching clinic was set up during the year at a clinic in the Tottenham part of the Borough
under a medical officer who is particularly interested in problems of diet. This clinic offered group
therapy as well as individual advice, and has been so successful that a second clinic in the Hornsey
part of the Borough is anticipated early in the new year. In order to assist individual medical
officers in dealing with weight problems in school children, a panel of medical officers evolved a
diet sheet for use throughout the Borough.

Co-operation with the Prince of Wales's Hospital
The department maintains a close link with the Prince of Wales's Hospital, Tottenham.
The Rheumatism Supervisory Clinic continues to be held at the hospital under the direction of
Dr. Ian M. Anderson, consultant paediatrician. A weekly session is conducted, at which a senior
medical officer attends; and another senior medical officer attends at a weekly general paediatric session.
I am indebted to Dr. Anderson for the following report on the work of the rheumatism clinic
during 1968:-
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