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Infectious Disease Visits.
During the year, the Health Visitors paid 1,347 visits with reference to cases of
infectious disease. 167 swabs were taken. The total number of children examined by
the Health Visitors in the schools was 1,776.
Uncleanliness and Verminous Conditions in Schoolchildren.
Number of children on roll at 31st December, 1945 6,259
Total number of examinations of children in the schools by
the school nurses 19,335
Number of individual children found unclean 948
Number of children cleansed under arrangements made by
the Local Education Authority 501
From these figures it will be noted that there was a high number of children found
to be suffering from uncleanliness or verminous condition. The increase over 1944 is
948 to 477—approximately 50%. While this looks to be a very unsatisfactory figure,
it is possibly due to a more thorough inspection and discovery of early cases of infestation
as a result of the increased co-operation throughout the service as a result of the amalgamation
of the public health and school medical work. This should be justified by the 1946 figures.
The discovery of early cases in school is of the utmost importance in the prevention
of the spread of infestation by vermin, and mothers are given precise instructions as to the
methods of dealing with lightly infested cases in a thorough manner. A contributory cause
of this figure was found to be the return of cases from evacuation with severe infestation
both with vermin and scabies. These children had been examined before departure from
Southall and had then been in a clean condition.
No legal proceedings were taken during the year with regard to uncleanliness or
verminous conditions relating to children attending schools in the Borough.
Prevention of Blindness.
No action has been taken under Section 176 of the Public Health Act, 1936, by
this authority for the prevention of blindness or for the treatment of persons suffering from
any disease or injury to the eyes. Several persons are, however, receiving assistance from
organisations who care for the blind.
Tuberculosis.
Pulmonary Tuberculosis.
The number of new cases notified during the year was 74.
Other Forms of Tuberculosis.
The number of new cases notified during the year was 15.
Of the total notifications 36 were notified from Institutions (Sanatoria —, County
Council Hospitals, 18, General Hospitals 18).
Deaths from Tuberculosis.
Tuberculosis of the respiratory system, 24 ; other forms, 7.
For details of new cases notified and deaths in 1945, see Appendix, Table XXVIII,
and the occupations of new cases, see Appendix, Table XXIX.
Public Health (Prevention of Tuberculosis) Regulations, 1925.
Public Health Act, 1936, Section 172.
Action under these powers was not necessary during the year.
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