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46
SKIN DISEASES.
Ringworm of the Scalp is the cause of long absences
from school. Even in favourable cases, where the parents
persist vigorously with treatment, absence from school is
practically never less than 4 months, while absences of 8 to
18 months in other cases are only too common.
Careful watch has been kept for suspicious patches of
baldness on children's heads, and the plan of the School
Nurses—to examine all the children's heads in a school,
especially in classes where cases have arisen—has been
effectual in tracking down cases un-noticed or un-recognised
by parents, and which would undoubtedly have caused spread of
infection.
210 fresh cases of Ringworm have been examined
by your Medical Officer during the year, a very
considerable decrease on the figures for last year. 270
re-examinations have been made, and when the cases did not
appear to be having proper treatment, they were visited at
home by the School Nurses. The rule made two years ago
that no cases of Ringworm of the Scalp must return to school
without the certificate of one of the Medical Officers, has
been strictly followed, and has worked satisfactorily.
Previous to this rule, cases often returned to school before
they were cured, the mother frequently stating that they had
been passed by a doctor, when no one but a chemist or
neighbour had been consulted. The stage at which
a cure has been effected is often difficult to detect, even by
a doctor, and resort to microscopical examination has to be
made in doubtful cases.