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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.
In March, 1943, the Ministry of Health issued Memo. 230A/Med. dealing with the use of Lethane hair oil
in the control of head lice.
In July, 1943, the Ministry of Health issued Circular 2831 on infestation by head lice—its primary object
apparently being to urge that Health Visitors should concentrate on the eradication of this condition.
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.

Children under 5 years of age.
These generally come to light in connection with their elder brothers and sisters. In 1943, 834 were treated
at the Health Centres for scabies making 2,014 attendances, and 73 were treated for lice making 73 attendances. The
figures for 1942 were 363 treated for Scabies making 977 attendances and 34 treated for lice making 34 attendances.
Adults.
The figures below indicate that there is a considerable increase in lice and scabies amongst adults, or in any
case that a greater number of adults suffering from these conditions are coming to the notice of the Health Department.
These adults mainly come to the notice of the Health Department as contacts with known cases amongst
school children or as cases referred from hospitals or factories. One factor which is thought by workers amongst
scabies to be keeping up the prevalence of this disease is the reluctance of the father of the family to admit that he
has anything wrong with him and to continue at work without securing efficient treatment.

The following table gives a picture of the work done at the Health Centres in respect of scabies and lice in
1943. The cases were followed up in their homes by the Health Visitors and necessary action taken as to cleansing,
disinfection and examination of contacts and education as to cleanliness. Steel nit combs are sold at the Health
Centres. Certain publications relative to lice and to scabies have been distributed. In the case of uncleanliness,
especially of the aged, the Health Visitors have worked in conjunction with the Sanitary Inspectors and if necessary
the patient has been admitted to hospital for a short period to enable the premises to be suitably cleansed.