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48
Six patients received dental treatment, including the provision
of artificial dentures in five cases, at a cost to the Council of
£20 5s. 3d., and 58 patients were granted extra nourishment.
The Tuberculosis Health Visitors paid 2,399 visits to patients'
homes during the year.
SCABIES AND VERMINOUS CONDITIONS.
The position as regards the incidence of cases of scabies has
continued to improve and there was also a reduction in the number
of persons attending at the Cleansing Station for cleansing from lice.
The Health Visitors have continued to advise expectant mothers of
the importance of freedom from verminous conditions and the
routine examination of children's heads both during home visiting
and at the clinics, paying particular attention to the least satisfactory
homes. In families where there are adolescent girls the
Health Visitors point out the need for weekly washing and daily
brushing and combing of the hair.
There can be little doubt that the housing difficulties in the
Borough, due to widespread damage and destruction of dwellings
by enemy action, with the consequent overcrowding and discomfort,
are retarding the efforts of the people to maintain cleanliness and
reducing the effectiveness of the Department's help in this
direction.

It will be seen that lice infestation was most commonly found
among schoolchildren, and it is interesting to note that only two
men were included among the 318 verminous adults cleansed.
The Department received 248 notices during the year of schoolchildren
who had required cleansing three or more times during
the preceding twelve months.