London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Heston and Isleworth 1935
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Heston and Isleworth]
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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 11,240, compared with 10,175 in 1934.
| Number of visits to schools by Nurses | 67 | |
| Total number of children examined | 11240 | |
| „ „ „ „ given warning notices | 527 | |
| „ „ „ „ excluded as verminous | 61 | |
| Found to have nits— | 1. (Few) | 379 |
| 2. (Bad) | 164 | |
| 3. (Very Bad) | 45 | |
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 woman employed by the Education Committee, 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 resumed the work of cleansing heads in October. The Committee supplies the
Sacker's Comb and Shampoo, and Mrs. Yates receives the 1/- fee per case in oayment for her
services. Ninety children were cleansed under the Authority's arrangements during 1935.
During 1935 it was found necessary to take legal proceedings in 10 cases, with the following results:—
| One case | Withdrawn. |
| One case | Dismissed on payment of costs. |
| Two cases | Adjourned Sine Die. |
| Six cases | Fined 5/- each. |
(c). Minor Ailments and Diseases of the Skin.
The Minor Ailments Qinics have again proved to be a very active feature of the School
Medical Service, and here, as in other branches of our work, the results of an increasing school
population continue to be much in evidence.
The Qinics are open at 9 a.m. every week-day throughout the year for the treatment of
minor ailments at the following centres:—
Hounslow—94a, Bath Road.
Heston—The Village Hall.
Isleworth—Busch House, Busch Corner.
A Medical Officer attends the Qinics on the following days:—
Hounslow—Tuesdays and Fridays at 10 a.m.
Heston—Thursdays at 10.30 a.m.
Isleworth—Mondays at 10.30 a.m.
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