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27
During the last three months of the year the incidence
of a mild type of Scarlet Fever was high, and on account of
its mildness the spread is probably due to "missed" cases,
this view being strengthened by the fact that several cases
have been notified by the doctors as being in the peeling
stage, medical attendance not having been summoned until
that stage is reached.
Also, I found at the School Clinic a desquamating child
who had been previously at home for a few days with a
"cold," and then was sent back to school by the parents
when apparently better, no doctor having been called.
FOLLOWING-UP.
The following-up of children suffering from defects is
carried out by the School Medical Officer and School Nurse,
aided in some instances by the teachers and attendance
officers.
The School Medical Officer completes a following-up
card for each child found defective, and he re-examines the
child on re-visiting the school each term until satisfactory
treatment has been obtained.
When no treatment has been obtained after a second
notice, the School Nurse visits the home and interviews the
parents in order to point out the necessity of treatment and
to advise and help them in the right way of getting this
carried out.
The work of the School Nurse may be briefly summarised
as follows :—
1. To prepare beforehand for routine medical inspections
by weighing, measuring, etc.
2. To assist at routine medical inspections and reinspections.
3. To follow up by paying home visits.
4. To carry out cleanliness surveys at the schools.
5. To re-examine those children found unclean after a
short interval.
6. To bring obstinate cases of uncleanliness before the
School Medical Officer.
7. To attend the Clinic.
8. To supervise the work of the clerk.
A short comparative table is here appended, and the
marked improvement in the number of children treated is
chiefly due to the energies of the School Nurse, who has
been able during 1921 to carry out home visiting more fully.