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a. member of the medical staff to be in attendance at the cleansing
station to inspect cases referred, to supervise treatment, and to see
that patients were free from infection before being discharged.
Accordingly the arrangements were put in charge of Dr. Rennie,
Deputy Medical Officer of Health, who furnished the following
observations :—
Report by Dr. James L. Rennie.
The great majority of cases of scabies and verminous conditions
have prior to this year been treated at home. Those who
had no home facilities or were exceedingly heavily infested were
referred to the cleansing sections of Public Assistance Institutions.
During the ten months ending 31st December, 1942, 303 new
patients attended for treatment and 270 of these were discharged
well. In all, some 1,291 treatments were administered. The large
number of treatments per case was due to some patients having
very marked septic infections.
At first a number of infected persons were unwilling to go to
the clinic for treatment, but as the value of adequate treatment
became obvious to the public the number declining treatment has
(Jecreased.
It has been found that the only satisfactory method of eradicating
the condition and of preventing further cases is to give
treatment to all domestic contacts whether or not they show signs
of the disease. The following scheme has been drawn up and is
now in operation :—
1. The Deputy Medical Officer of Health attends the clinic
two mornings each week to advise the Nurse regarding
the treatment of difficult cases.
2. When a case of scabies is notified or referred to the clinic,
all members of the household are requested to attend for
treatment. If necessary, a circular letter is sent to the
head of the household pointing out the necessity of
treatment and giving an appointment for each member
to attend the clinic.
3. The Sanitary Inspectors have been given special instruction
regarding scabies by the Deputy Medical Officer of
Health and act as home visitors.
4. When a patient or contact fails to keep his or her appointment,
the Nurse-in-charge notifies the Public Health
Department and the District Sanitary Inspector visits
the home, explains the need for treatment and arranges a