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70
On discovery that a child has an unclean head, a School
Nurse sends the child home with a notice to the parent
calling attention to the fact with instructions for the child
to report at the Clinic on the following morning.
If the verminous condition is not remedied forthwith,
the child is brought before the School Medical Officer, who
excludes her from School, when the Education Secretary
sends a warning letter to the parent, stating that unless the
child 'reports clean within seven days, legal proceedings
will be taken for contravention of the School Attendance
Bye-laws.
There is no doubt that the only way to cure verminous
heads is by frequent and regular inspection by the School
Nurses of every scholar in the Schools.
It is gratifying to note that there has been a very
marked improvement in the standard of cleanliness during
the past ten years due to the persistent and tactful work
of the School Nurses in this somewhat unsavoury duty.
Parents are advised to have their girls' hair kept short
during School life.
Legal proceedings were taken under the School
Attendance Bye-Laws in six cases during the year, resulting
in fines being imposed in five instances.
(c) Minor ailments and diseases of the skin.
The number of minor ailments has 'remained fairly
constant in recent years.
There were only two cases of ringworm of the scalp.
(d) Visual defects and sxternal eye disease.
During the year 40 children were found Requiring
treatment for defective vision, and 31 for squint.
(e) Nose rind throat defects.
There were 88 children suffering from enlarged tonsils
and adenoids referred for treatment.
(f) Ear disease and defective hearing.
The minor ear diseases have been referred for treatment
at the Clinic. Defective hearing is not common in
children, except in those suffering from adenoids.