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127
where sores are found (sores which are the result of dirth
and vermin), and their clothing disinfested, besides being
supplied with a box of vermicide ointment.
Poor little victims of incapable parents ! their skin disfigured
and tortured by thousands of bites. As a matter of
fact the parents themselves have verminous bodies in many
instances, and constantly re-infest the children after treatment
at the Cleansing Station.
There is at present no power to compel adults to cleanse
themselves, so that the fathers, mothers, adult brothers and
sisters of the children can be as verminous as they like,,
and, not only can they infest the school children in the same
house, but they can jostle shoulders with clean people in
the street or in any public conveyance at their own sweet
will. The Public Health Department of the London County
Council are now considering this question and it is to be
hoped we shall soon have power to compel these dirtty<
people to cleanse themselves and so be less of a menace to
clean people.
Those who take part in the working of the present law
ask themselves very seriously and very often, "What is the
good of such a high and expensive system of education for
those poor children who have such bad homes and such
parents ?" Parents who allow them to sleep in flea-ridden
beds, huddled together for warmth under some old coats,
irritated all night, heavy eyed and unrested in the morning,
too utterly tired to use their brains during school hours.
The provisions of the Children's Act for punishing parents
who neglect their children and home is not enforced effectively;
the Sanitary Authority should be responsible for
taking proceedings under the Act.