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* This includes the 1,611 attendances made by Secondary and Technical School children and the 1,411
by adults and others under Section 181 of the Public Health Act, 1936, which are shown in the footnote
to Table No. 8.
† This includes the 965 attendances made by Secondary and Technical School children and the 2,988
by adults and others under Section 181 of the Public Health Act, 1936, which are shown in the footnote
to Table No. 9.
In 1941, one School Child and two Children under 5 years of age were treated under the Council's
Scheme by X-rays for Ringworm of the Scalp.
In 1942, one School Child and three Children under 5 years of age were treated under the Council's
Scheme by X-rays for Ringworm of the Scalp.
Number of Individuals Who Attended the Municipal Centres in 1941 and 1942.
1941. 1942.
Public Elementary School Children 3,781 6,314
Children under 5 years of age 4,378 5,561
Expectant Mothers 2,504 3,332
Nursing Mothers 2,309 3,041
PRINCESS ROAD CENTRE
1,209 attendances were made by Children under 1 year of age at the Medical Consultation Sessions in
1942, 596 by Children 1-5 years of age and 324 by Nursing Mothers, or a total of 2,129.
UNCLEANLINESS AND SCABIES.
In January, 1940, the Ministry of Health issued a Memorandum on Scabies (Memo. 229/Med.) and a
.Memorandum on the Louse and how to deal with it (Memo. 230/Med.). Circular 1942 accompanying these
memoranda stated that the memoranda briefly summarised the principal advice which would aid Local
Authorities in making provision for preventing and curing these conditions and for securing the treatment
and disinfestation of the members of households among whom pediculosis or scabies had been found to exist.
In March, 1941, the Ministry of Health and Board of Education issued a joint circular—No. 2306
Ministry of Health and 1544 Board of Education— on Infestation by Lice with the view of emphasising the
importance of a continued and extended campaign for the abolition of lice, a memorandum on the Incidence
of Lice being enclosed. The circular required medical officers to report as to the incidence of lousiness in the
area and as to the educative and administrative measures which in their view could most effectively be taken
to deal with the problem.
In November, 1941, the Ministry of Health issued a further circular— Circular 2517 on Scabies—
enclosing the Scabies Order, 1941, made by the Minister of Health under Regulation 33A of the Defence
(General) Regulations, 1939. This Order came into force on 28th October, 1941, and its provisions apply to
persons suffering from scabies or in a verminous condition. It gives the Medical Officer of Health power on
becoming aware of such a person to inspect any premises in which that person is or has recently been
accommodated, to require the examination of any person who is or has recently been accommodated in the
premises, and if necessary to require such person to submit to cleansing or treatment.
In December, 1941, the Board of Education issued Circular 1575 drawing attention to the foregoing
and stressing the importance of the elimination of scabies among school children.
In January and April, 1942, circular letters in connection with the treatment of scabies were received
from officers of the Ministry of Health.
In May, 1942, a further Circular No. 2645 was issued relative to the Scabies Order, 1941, and in June,
1942, Memo. 229/Med., a revised edition of the Memorandum on Scabies and how to deal with it.
The position in Willesden is as follows :—
School Children.
Since June, 1941, routine cleanliness inspections have been held in each school department twice a term
instead of once a term, and the Health Visitors have continued to visit their schools weekly to re-examine
children found nitty or verminous and to see cases specially referred by the teachers. Every effort is made
by home visitation to improve the standard of cleanliness of the family. Cases of lice and scabies are treated
at the Health Centres where they are under the care of Health Centre Doctors and are referred to the Council's
Skin Specialist as necessary.
Table No. 11.
Percentage of Children examined found Unclean at Routine Cleanliness Inspections
1938 5.6 1940 5.5 1942 5.1
1939 50 1941 5.2
Table No. 12.
Percentage of Individual Children examined found Unclean at Routine Cleanliness, Inspections
1938 3.8 1940 4.2 1942 4.2
1939 3.8 1941 4.2
Table No. 13.
Total Number of Individual School Children Cleansed at the Authority's Clinics.
1938 379 1940 476* 1941 219
1939 321 * Increase largely due to cleansing 1942 189
immediately prior to evacuation
Table No. 14.
Number of Cases of Scabies amongst School Children under Observation by the Health Visitor
1938 213 (School roll 18,500 approx.) 1941 273 (Roll increasing latter half of
1939 178 (Roll decreased at Sept., 1939.) year.)
1940 209 (Roll 5,500 approx.) 1942 722 (Roll 13,000 approx.)
The above figures do not appear to indicate any particular increase in lice amongst school children in
Willesden, but indicate an increase in scabies.