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was 105,646. In 865 instances pediculi or nits were detected. At the
school clinics 151 children were dealt with and 17 verminous children
were cleansed by the school nurses.
Body vermin are now rarely encountered. As a whole the clothing
is substantial and clean.
Minor Ailments.—Bronchial catarrh, general debility, impetigo,
sores and injuries accounted for a large proportion of the cases dealt
with at the Minor Ailments Clinics. The number of children who have
met with accidents and who are referred to these clinics is increasing.
This procedure should not be encouraged, for such children frequently
present injuries which can only be dealt with adequately at the casualty
department of a hospital, and attendance at the school clinics involves
delay in treatment. The application of Faradism for chilblains was
continued during the winter months with gratifying results.
Scabies.—In 1938 the number of cases dealt with was 113, compared
with 108 in 1937. The control of this disease presents a difficult
problem, for affected adults in the home are often the cause of scabies
in school children, whereas schools rarely play any part in the spread of
infection. It is extremely difficult to get adults to disclose that they
are suffering from the disease owing to the fear of loss of work. Moreover,
although children can now be satisfactorily treated with baths and
inunction at the school clinic, adult members of the same household
are reluctant to submit to treatment at the cleansing station.
As soon as a cure is effected personal clothing and bedding are
disinfected, but notwithstanding these precautions recurrences are
frequent and re-infection can often be traced to adult members of the
family in whom the disease is still active.
Ringworm.—Only 3 cases of ringworm of the scalp and 7 cases of
body ringworm were found during the year, and the decline in the
incidence of this disease is thus sustained.
Plantar Warts were seen in an increasing number of cases.
Visual Defects and External Eye Diseases.—The number of
children found to have visual defects was 925. In 739 cases spectacles
were prescribed and in 737 instances these were obtained.