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68
The usual treatment was some form of sulphur preparation, while
stress was laid on the necessity of treating clothing and bedding.
For some years before the war, in London amongst other places, the
incidence of scabies had been on the increase. By 1941 it was apparent
that there was a substantial volume of scabies in this area. Such an
increase was not altogether unexpected in view of war conditions, though
it remains undecided as to whether the increase was really due to the fact
that so many men were in the services, or was attributable to the habits
of the population, acquired as the result of enemy action on the country.
This uncertainty as to the cause of the increase means there is a similar
uncertainty as to the future incidence, though there would seem to be no
real reason the incidence should not fall to the low pre-war level.
In August, 1941, arrangements were made by which facilities for
treatment were offered at six First Aid Posts in the district, the work
being undertaken by the Civil Defence personnel. 299 persons attended
for treatment from then until the end of the year. Possibly more because
the facilities became better known or were more taken advantage of than
any actual increase in incidence, 1,701 persons attended in 1942, and 2,178
in 1943. In the latter part of 1944 most of the First Aid Posts were
closed, leaving only two. The fall in the numbers treated in 1944, namely
1,915 persons, might have been partly attributable to the reduction in
the facilities offered, partly to the evacuation of large numbers which
occurred in the late summer. In May, 1945, another First Aid Post was
closed, since when facilities have been available only at the one First
Aid Post, 58, at the Car Park where work is undertaken by persons who
were previously members of the Civil Defence Services, but are now
engaged by the Council.
In all, 1,714 persons were treated in 1945, of whom 149 were children
under five, 427 children of 5 to 15, and the remainder adults. Whereas
of the children girls were in only slightly greater numbers than boys, in
the case of adults three out of four were women. This might indicate not
a lower incidence amongst men but a greater reluctance for them to
attend for treatment, though should this be the case it is not reflected in
a high rate of re-infection of the families, because this seems to be rare.
It was particularly fortunate that this increased prevalence of scabies
was coincident with the discovery of a therapeutic preparation far
exceeding in efficiency the pre-war sulphur treatment. Benzyl benzoate
has been used throughout, two applications being given. Few patients
failed to attend for the second application. On the other hand, there
were very few who came for further treatment, and of these it seems as
likely they were instances of re-infection rather than of failure of cure.
Clothing as a factor of the spread of scabies is accepted now as being of
far less account than it was once considered to be. To a growing extent,
then, patients are relying on their own treatment of clothing, and much
less is being removed for stoving. Again, the small numbers of relapse
cases suggests the soundness of this practice.
For a while, at least, it looks as though facilities should continue to
be made available for the treatment of those suffering from this complaint.
Whereas it would seem the incidence of the complaint is declining in the
provinces, this is not as yet the position in the London area.