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Comparative statistics cannot be expected to give a wholly reliable assessment of the
results of these new methods after a single year's working, but there have already been many
indications of the salutary effect upon the parents of the firmer attitude which is being
displayed towards this unpleasant and unneighbourly infestation. Fathers in particular have
been brought to realise, often for the first time, the condition into which their children
have been allowed to fall and have taken steps to rectify the situation. How far the apparent
improvement in the degree of infestation will be maintained and whether It will be necessary
to take the further proceedings allowed by the Education Act in the case of persistent
offenders remains to be seen in the light of further experience.
FOLLOW-UP. This is a most important function of the school nurses which is essential
if the full value is to be obtained from inspection and treatment. Many children would weary
of carrying out the doctor's recommendations and parents fail to co-operate without the
friendly encouragement and advice of the nurse. This service frequently requires the nurse
to visit the children's homes and this is welcomed as an excellent opportunity of getting to
know really Intimately the families for whose welfare they are responsible.
During the year the school nurses paid 5,067 home visits in this way.
RESEARCH AND INVESTIGATION
A joint committee of the Institute of Child Health (University of London), the Society
of Medical Officers of Health and the Population Investigation Committee at the London School
of Economies has been following the health, growth and development of 6,000 children born in
the first week of March, 1946, who are drawn from all social classes and from all parts of
England and Wales. The chief aims are to collect information on illnesses, accidents, growth
and development, to show the effect of environment on the health and growth of young children,
to compare the history of prematurely born children with those born at term, and to observe
the achievement of children against the background of their ability, health and opportunities.
The Special Services Branch of the Ministry of Education have been closely associated
with the planning of this inquiry and are represented on the Committee. The Education
Committee, in common with many other local authorities, agreed to co-operate in the inquiry.
During 1952, the children came tinder the supervision of the School Health Service and the
detailed forms supplied by the Joint Committee were completed by the school medical officers
and the school nurses. Towards the end of the year a record of school absences among the
survey children and reports of mothers on sickness during holidays were obtained for the
Committee.
The numbeis of National Survey examinations carried out by medical officers during 1952
and 1953 were 25 and 21 respectively. The numbers of reports completed by the school nurses
during the same two years were 25 and 68 respectively.
TREATMENT
RINGWORM. No cases of ringworm of the scalp were treated during the year. This is
the first occasion in the history of the Service when no cases have been recorded.
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