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Scabies. The incidence of scabies showed still further increase
towards the end of the year under review, when a large number of children
who had returned from the reception areas were found to have
contracted this disease. The ailment was then passed on to
adult members of the family who could not be inspected and who in
many instances sought no treatment. School children and younger
members of the family known to be suffering from the disease by
officials of the Maternity and Child Welfare Department received
treatment by bathing and the application of various medicaments
at the School Clinic. As soon as a cure was effected personal
clothing and bedding were disinfected, but re-infection was frequent
and could often be traced to contact with affected adults in the
home.
Much of the labour expended in treating school children
suffering from scabies is therefore wasted, and until means have been
devised for the detection and treatment of affected adult members of
the household, there appears to be little prospect of obtaining
good results from the remedies applied to the school population.
Ringworm. Of the three cases of ringworm of the scalp dealt
with, two received X-ray treatment at the North Middlesex Hospital.
Five cases of body ringworm were discovered and treated at the school
clinics. The incidence of ringworm thus maintained its steadv
decline.
Plantar Warts. The increase of children exhibiting this
affectionn noted in 1938 has again been observed during; the year under
review. Girls suffer from plantar warts more frequently than boys,
and the condition appears to be particularly prevalent in girls'
secondary schools. Infants are rarely affected. These findings
in Dare feet, together with the extension of swimming instruction
to a larger proportion of older childeren, for that these warts are
contagious is now an accepted fact.
Visual Defects and External Eye Disease. Conjunctivitis and
blepharitis were, as fomer years, the most common external eye
diseases. Corneal ulceration in a severe form has of late been
rarely encountered, and the provision of milk in schools and wellbalanced
school meals has no doubt contributed materially to the
decline of this disease.
Nose and Throat Defects. Operative treatment of enlarged
tonsils and adenoids Was carried out in 383 cases.
Of these operations. 167 were performed at the North Middlesex
Hospital and 115 at the Prince of Wales's Hospital (282 in all)
Treatment at both Hospitals is in accordance with agreements
entered into by the Education Committee, and provides for the
retention of patients in hospital for a minimum period of 48 hours.
All tonsillectomy cases are visited immediately after their
return home by the school nurses.
Apart from the 282 cases which received treatment under the
Authority's scheme, a further 101 cases were operated upon by
private practitioners or at hospitals outside the scope of the
Authority's agreements.
Orthopaedic and Postural Defects. The work in the orthopaedic
department suffered temporary interruption during the early weeks of
the war, but before the termination of the year orthopaedic and
massage and remedial exercises clinics were resumed.
Surgical appliances were supplied and repairs and replacements
were effected in 149 instances.
Dental Defects. Owing to the dislocation of the work caused
during the. first few weeks of the war by evacuation and the temporary
closing of schools, a comparison with 1938 is only made possible by
referring to the pre-war part of 1939. During this period the
following-up scheme which was initiated in the autumn of 1938 was
put into full operation; all refusals of treatment were visited
by the school nurses and thanks to their efforts a great many parents
were persuaded to reconsider their previous objection to treatment
for their children.