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† 141 of these attendances were made for the inspection of contacts who on inspection were found not to be
suffering.
* 104 of these attendances were made for the inspection of contacts who on inspection were found not to be
suffering.
‡ 100 of these attendances were made for the inspection of contacts who on inspection were found not to be
suffering.
Although the arrangements at the Health Centres for the treatment of scabies and lice were adequate for the
cases which had to be dealt with in normal times, they were quite inadequate and unsuitable for the cases requiring
attention in 1941, 1942 and 1943. It was evident that little progress was likely to be made until arrangements were
such that every member of a household in which a case of scabies came to light could be examined and if necessary
treated at once and at the same time. After careful consideration the Council decided to erect a suitable building
suitably staffed for dealing with these conditions in the Municipal Hospital grounds where such cases would not
be crowded up with maternity and child welfare patients, where a doctor would be readily available and where all
persons could be treated at once and return home in their own clothes after these had been disinfested at the hospital
disinfecting station. Further, any severe cases could be immediately admitted to hospital. This proposal received
the sanction of the Ministry of Health in January, 1943, and the Centre opened in March, 1944. It will now be
possible to undertake a still more intensive campaign against these conditions than has hitherto been practicable.
SECONDARY AND JUNIOR TECHNICAL, ETC., SCHOOLS.
The arrangement by which the Medical Staff of the Willesden Council carry out the inspection of pupils
attending the Secondary and Junior Technical Schools in Willesden, on behalf of the Middlesex County Council
has been continued. The total number of pupils on the rolls of the Willesden Secondary and Junior Technical Schools
now included in this arrangement is approximately 3,000.
In 1943 1,023 medical examinations and 396 special and re-examinations were carried out during the year.
200 pupils seen at routine medical inspections required treatment—118 on account of defective vision.
The Middlesex County Council's scheme of treatment of scholars suffering from defective vision and
orthopaedic defects at the Willesden Council's Health Centres, and also that of dental inspection and treatment by the
Council's dental staff, have been continued. 2,104 pupils were dentally inspected during 1943, 1,399 were found
to require treatment and 754 were treated at the Willesden Council's Dental Clinics. 3,210 attendances were made
at the Clinics during the year for Medical and Dental Treatment.
As from the 1st April, 1943, the Willesden Education Committee agreed to undertake the treatment of minor
ailments for secondary and junior technical school children on behalf of the Middlesex County Council.
REPORTS OF SPECIALISTS ATTACHED TO THE COUNCIL'S HEALTH CENTRES.
Dermatological Department.—Report by H. Haldin-Davis, m.d., f.r.c.p., f.r.c.s.:—Since the outbreak
of the War the chief subject of dermatological interest which has affected Willesden is the prevalence of scabies. The
incidence of this disease was rising slightly before the War, but during the early part of the War its prevalence increased
very greatly. It seemed to increase particularly quickly while the air attack on London was in full swing. During
the recent months although cases are still quite common they do not seem to be quite so numerous as they were at one
time. It is probable that the control of the disease has been helped by the researches by Mr. K. Mellanby. This
observer has shown that the disease is almost exclusively spread by personal contact and the role played in its diffusion
by infected blankets and clothing is not nearly so important as was formerly thought. The recognition of this fact has
greatly lightened the labours of the Sanitary Department for it is no longer thought necessary to have all the clothes
and bedding sterilised by heat for every family in which a case of scabies occurs—instead of that, the modern method
is to treat all the members of the family for scabies whether they show clinical signs of the disease or not and this
course appears to be effective. Most of the work in connection with the scabies epidemic has been done by the wholetime
medical personnel of the Borough, but quite a number of cases have been referred to the Dermatological Specialist
for his opinion either as regards diagnosis or the success of treatment.
Certain difficulties have arisen of late in carrying on the Dermatological work of the Borough during the past
year. Ringworm of the scalp which had been very nearly stamped out and of which the incidence was not more than
half-a-dozen cases a year just before the War began, has now shown a distinct tendency to increase. It may be
remembered that in 1914 over 120 cases occurring in Willesden were treated by the dermatologist appointed for the
purpose by the then Willesden U.D.C. alone and many others in the district were dealt with by various London
Hospitals. It will be seen therefore, that this disease had by 1939 been brought well under control. In the last two
years, however, there has been a distinct tendency for it to increase. Owing to war-time conditions there is a good
deal of difficulty in getting cases satisfactorily dealt with by X-Rays, the only effective and rapid method of treatment.