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(d). Skin Disease.
Table IV. (page 38) shows that 373 cases of skin disease and 1193 miscellaneous cases of
bruises, sores, chilblains, etc. were treated under the Authority's scheme during the year.
Uncleanliness.
The Cleanliness Survey is a most important factor in maintaining cleanliness amongst
school children, and although it was not found possible during the year to attain the standard
of one cleanliness survey per term at each school, it has been possible to increase the number
of examinations to 8724, compared with 6774 in 1931, 4211 in 1930, and 782 in 1929.
Number of visits to schools by Nurses 63
Total number of children examined 8724
,, ,, ,, ,, given warning notices 405
,, ,, ,, ,, excluded as verminous 25
1. (Few) 328
Found to have nits— 2. (Bad) 67
3. (Very Bad) 10
The nurse's visit is a "surprise" visit, and every child in school is examined privately.
Those children who are found to have nitty or verminous conditions are given a sealed
envelope, addressed to the parent, containing (1) instructions as to the best method of cleansing
the head, (2) the name and address of the Council's Home Help, who would cleanse
the head in one sitting for a fee of 1/-, and, (3) a warning that the child will be excluded
from school if the head is not properly cleansed.
Two clear days after the Survey, a Special Clinic is arranged for the re-examination
of these children. Those who have not been properly cleansed are excluded from school.
If at the expiration of seven days they are still unclean, the parents render themselves liable to
prosecution under the School Attendance Bye-Laws.
Mrs. Yates has done the work of cleansing heads since 1923, the Council supplying the
Sackers Combs and Shampoo. As a rule, parents are glad to avail themselves of her services,
so as to avoid having their children excluded from school. Eighty-seven children were
cleansed by Mrs. Yates during 1932.
During 1932 it was found necessary to take legal proceedings in 6 cases, with the
following results:
One case Adjourned sine die.
One case Adjourned for one month (*)
One case Cautioned.
One case Ordered to pay costs.
Two cases Fined 5/- each.
* This case was re-heard early in January, 1933, when the parents were ordered to pay
Costs.
Ringworm of the Scalp.—Five case were successfully treated by X-ray under our
arrangements with Dr. Arthur (of Ealing) during 1932. The Authority pays Dr. Arthur's
fee of £1 : 1 : 0 per case, but parents are asked to contribute 2/6 only, and in necessitous cases
free treatment can be obtained on application to the Education Committee.
(e). External Eye Disease.
A total of 176 external eye defects were treated at the School Clinics during the year.
These were chiefly conjunctivitis, blepharitis, with some phlyctenular ulcers and suppurating
conditions of the lids.
(/). Vision.
Five hundred and thirty-seven cases were submitted to refraction, compared with 531
in 1931, 443 in 1930, 413 in 1929, 297 in 1928. Spectacles were prescribed in 500 cases and
obtained before the end of the year in 490 cases.
Twelve other cases were treated by private arrangement of the parents, and spectacles
were obtained in 4 cases.
I am indebted to Dr. Roberts, who is in charge of the Refraction Clinic, for the following
report—
Report on the use of a -J- 1 Sphere before the Reading Eye in the Routine
Vision Testing of Children in School.
In 1931 the Board of Education published a Report of the Committee of Inquiry into
Problems connected with Defective Vision in School Children. In Part IV., under the heading
" General Conclusions," the Committee states that it considers that early myopes are likely to
be overlooked under the present system of vision testing in the Schools by the use of the
Snellen long distance test, where, if a child reads 6/6 or 6/9 and is without subjective
symptoms, he is passed as normal. A modification of this procedure is advocated, viz., the
placing of a + 1 sphere before the reading eye, which the' Committee considers should render
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