View report page

51
child is permitted to attend school. Doubtful cases are kept under
supervision by the School Medical Officer and examined from
time to time. Surgical cases are referred to one of the London
General Hospitals for advice, and where special appliances are
advocated the Education Committee may contribute towards the
cost.
Skin Cases.
(d) These are treated at the general clinic and in most cases
the results are highly satisfactory, as the children attend several
times a week until cured. It is found that this repeated attendance
at the clinic is a great improvement on giving advice for
home treatment, and while it throws a heavy strain on the school
nursing staff, the results justify the extra labour. There are,
however, two skin diseases, namely, Ringworm of the Scalp and
Scabies, which demand more exhaustive notice.
Ringworm of the Scalp.
This is a disease which has long been a source of trouble and
worry to all engaged in school medical work, and despite every
effort there is little decrease in its incidence among school children.
Most of the cases are first noticed by the school teacher,
by the parent, or by one of the school nurses during her cleanliness
survey. When a suspected case is first discovered it is sent
to the clinic for examination by the Medical Officer. Definite
cases can be at once diagnosed by the aid of a magnifying glass,
but where doubt exists hairs are examined microscopically.
In the event of a case being confirmed as ringworm the
parents are straightway advised to have X-ray treatment carried
out at the London Hospital. Should the parent agree to this
course he is given a letter to the hospital, and the cost of the
operation is defrayed by the Education Committee. In some
instances the parents object to X-ray treatment as it entails the
temporary loss of hair—a serious matter amongst the older girls.
In these cases other forms of treatment are tried, but the loss of
school attendance is always serious, as there is no remedy which
can be considered as even moderately efficient in the treatment of
this disease except that of epilation by X-rays.