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69
RINGWORM.
During the year the School Medical Staff continued
their vigorous efforts to combat this disease.
The number of cases reported from the schools in 1914
and previous years is as follows :—
In 1914 48
In 1913 82
In 1912 123
In 1911 150
In 1910 128
In 1909 114
At the end of the year there were 26 cases of ringworm
in school children under observation.
In past years our efforts have been to some extent
neutralised by the persistence of cases in children under
school age, often infecting older children. Cases have also
not infrequently migrated into the district. Owing to
measures of treatment now carried out by other Education
Authorities this last factor is becoming less important. The
treatment of children under school age suffering from ringworm
is at present receiving attention from the Council.
Ringworm in our schools will never be stamped out while
children under school age are left free to spread the disease.
The desirability of submitting the child to treatment by
the X-Rays was impressed on the parents of every infected
school child. As a result 44 cases received treatment during
the year, as compared with 29 in the previous year. No harm
resulted to any child from this treatment, with the exception
of a transient dermatitis in one or two cases. This
dermatitis or inflammation of the skin was brought on by
an undue susceptibility of the scalp to the X-Rays. Only
temporary inconvenience resulted to the child.