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the disease, probably by hand to hand contact. Bacteriological
investigation of school toilet accommodation in the past has
proved abortive and no pathogenic organisms have been found.
Scabies, a common skin infection during the war years, is
beginning to appear again. I have been asked to help with the
treatment of at least one family a year for the past few years,
and in 1959 this rose to three families. The disease is so
contagious that it is essential to treat the whole household at
the same time whether all the members appear to be infected or
not. As this involves each individual being bathed before
treatment the biggest problem especially in a large family is
that of a hot water supply. However, local arrangements have
now been made for treatment, and so far this has been very
successful.
In January a one-day conference on the problem of the
elderly in the community was attended by delegates from this
authority. Recent surveys on the problem were commented upon,
and there was lively discussion between the members of an expert
panel and delegates. The chief factor which emerged was the
need for co-operation between the various voluntary and statutory
welfare services in operation. Unless each knows of the other's
existence and scope there can be a great deal of energy wasted
owing to duplication of enquiries and so on. Some old people
are lonely and welcome many visitors, but others do not, and if
several people in succession call offering help, the old person
may well become infuriated and refuse all assistance.
The Smoke Control programme launched in 1957 has proceeded
apace, and in January a general assistant was appointed with
special duties in connection with clean air. We sought a man
with building or plumbing experience who would be able to take
over the routine assessment and inspection of conversion of
fireplaces. The appointment has been a successful one, and the
assistant has been able to relieve the Public Health Inspectors
of a considerable amount of straightforward work, leaving them
more time to attend to other duties for which they are specially
qualified.
The Department suffered a certain amount of upheaval in
December when the building in which it was housed was declared
unsafe and an urgent removal was made to premises at Springfield
House, Hayes End Road. The allocation of accommodation there
is still only temporary and I would like to thank all members
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