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chitis, may recover without any permanent damage being
done. Unfortunately, the advent of war has prevented the
plans of the Education Committee in connection with this
matter being carried out, but the establishment of an Open
Air School has been put down as the first business of the
Committee when the war is over.
Cleansing of Verminous Children.
Vermin amongst children constitutes a disease which
would be easily dealt with if the mother of every family had
sufficient time and energy to devote to the care of her children.
During the year 1916, 962 cases of school children were
referred on account of verminous and nitty conditions. Of
this number 772 were cleansed by the parents on notice being
given and visits to the homes paid by the Health Visiting
Staff. In 117 cases, however, summonses for non-attendance
at school had to be resorted to. In 98 cases the parents
were fined. In 1 case the summons was dismissed, and in
16 cases the summonses were adjourned and subsequently
withdrawn on satisfactory attendance. 2 cases were pending
at the end of the year. The remaining 73 cases include
those which left the district and those still under observation
at the end of the year.
Home Helps.
In connection with the question of verminous and nitty
conditions amongst school children the Education Committee
appointed two women on the 12th July, 1915, to cleanse the
children at their homes. The services of one of these Home
Helps was dispensed with on the 11th December, 1915, and
of the other on the 29th July, 1916.
The wages paid to the Home Helps were 15s. per week,
their hours being the ordinary office hours.