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72
The fund by which children can obtain free boots ensures
that none need now suffer from wet feet with their
unpleasant sequelæ. The utility of the fund is shown by the
fact that over 200 pairs of boots and shoes were supplied
through its agency during 1914.
Verminous Conditions.—Of the children presented for
medical inspection, 7.94% were found infected with nits,
and in .19% lice were actually present. The quarterly visit
of the School Nurse to the schools is most successful in
preventing bad cases attending school. The condition,
however, occurs to an undesirable extent, as will be seen
from the fact that there were under observation 990 cases
at the end of the year. Of these, 510 were discovered
during the year, 214 were carried forward from 1913, the
remainder being cases carried forward from previous years.
Of these, 12 dated as far back as 1909. These were cases
which had been found to be intermittently infected.
The attitude of parents to the general care of their
children has been well classified as—
(1) apathetic;
(2) ignorant;
(3) desirous but without means;
(4) sparing neither pains nor money.
It is very satisfactory that in Ilford by far the majority
of parents are to be found in the last three classes, as is to
be seen by the high percentage attending medical inspection.
It will, however, be seen from the above figures that there
are a considerable number who are apathetic about the condition
of their children's heads, and it is hoped that the
adoption by the Council of the powers delegated in the
Children Act, 1908, Section 122, will enable more pressure
to be brought to bear in such cases.