Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Willesden]
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10
PRINCESS ROAD CENTRE.
1,147 attendances were made by Children under 1 year of age at the Medical Consultation Sessions in 194 I,
232 by Children 1-5 years of age and 1,025 by Nursing Mothers, or a total of 2,404.
UNCLEANLINESS AND SCABIES.
In last year's Annual Report a note was given of the various Government Circulars and Memoranda relative
to uncleanliness and Scabies.
Scabies had begun to increase slightly before the war, but during the war it has become very prevalent. In
the early part of 1944 it showed some signs of decreasing, but in the last few months of 1941 and the early months
of 1945 it again increased. The evacuation of children during the summer and autumn of 1944 and perhaps the
absence of leave for Service men possibly contributed to the apparent decrease in these conditions. The number of
adults with Scabies coming to knowledge was actually greater in 1944 than in 1943.
The Council's new specially-built Scabies and Lice Treatment Clinic opened on March 16th, 1944.
The following table shows the work done at the new Treatment Clinic and the 3 Health Centres in respect
of Scabies and Lice in 1944. The cases were followed up in their homes by the Health Visitors and necessary action
taken as to cleansing, disinfection, examination and treatment of contacts and education as to cleanliness. Steel nit
combs are sold at the Health Centres. Certain publications relative to Lice and Scabies have been distributed. In
the case of uncleanliness, especially of the aged, the Health Visitors work in conjunction with the Sanitary Inspectors,
and if necessary and practicable, patients are admitted to hospital for a short period to enable the premises to be
suitably cleansed.
Table No. 11.
Treatment of Scabies and Lice at the Treatment Clinic and Health Centres, 1944.
| No. of New Cases Treated. | Total No. of Attendances Made. | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| For Scabies. | For Lice and Nits. | Total. | For Scabies. | For Lice and Nits. | Total. | |
| Children under 5 years | 402 | 55 | 457 | 1,235† | 58 | 1,293 |
| Children 5-14 years | 786 | 270 | 1,056 | 2,819* | 286 | 3,105 |
| Adults | M. 274 | M. 3 | M. 277 | 2,683‡ | 148 | 2,831 |
| W. 822 | W. 116 | W. 938 | ||||
| Totals | 2,284 | 444 | 2,728 | 6,737 | 492 | 7,229 |
† 59 of these attendances were made for the inspection of contacts who on inspection were found not to be
suffering. Such contacts, nevertheless, usually receive treatment.
* 73 of these attendances were made for the inspection of contacts who on inspection were found not to be
suffering. Such contacts, nevertheless, usually receive treatment.
‡ 232 of these attendances were made for the inspection of contacts who on inspection were found not to be
suffering. Such contacts, nevertheless, usually receive treatment.
SCHOOL CHILDREN.
Routine cleanliness inspections are held in each school department at least 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 Treatment Clinic or Health Centres where they are under the care of a
doctor and are referred to the Council's Skin Specialist as necessary.
Table No. 12.
Percentage of Children examined found Unclean at Routine Cleanliness Inspections.
| 1938 | 5.6 | 1940 | 5.5 | 1942 | 5.1 |
| 1939 | 5.0 | 1941 | 5.2 | 1943 | 6.1 |
| 1944 | 6.8 |
Table No. 13.
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 | 1943 | 4.8 |
| 1944 | 5.2 |
Table No. 14.
Total Number of Individual School Children Cleansed at the Authority's Clinics.
| 1940 | 476* | 1941 | 219 | ||
| 1938 | 379 | *Increase largely due to cleansing immediately prior to evacuation. | 1942 | 189 | |
| 1939 | 321 | 1943 | 348 | ||
| 1944 | 246 | ||||
Table No. 15.
Number of Cases of Scabies amongst School Children Treated at the Authority's Clinics.
| 1941 | 396 | 1942 | 725 | 1943 | 1,228 |
| 1944 | 786 |