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Ringworm is still very prevalent, and prevents many children
from attending school. Ringworm of the scalp is especially difficult
to treat by drugs, as the mothers have not the time or
inclination to apply the application regularly to stamp it out.
X-ray treatment is necessary, but this is only to be got at Hospitals
where the Sanitary Authority are unable to supply the necessary
apparatus, I cannot help thinking that the purchase of a portable
installation which could visit the school at stated intervals would
not be expensive, and by curing the disease quickly would enable
a large number of children to attend school which they would not
otherwise be able to do.
Last year and this year, owing to the parents being out of
work, a large number of children were underfed; a few largehearted
gentlemen, ably assisted by ladies, started a soup kitchen
for necessitious children only, which has greatly benefitted those
in need. Last year 3,995 meals were supplied; this year it is continuing
its good work, and will, I hope, become a permanent
institution in the district.
SCHOOL CLOSING FOR EPIDEMIC DISEASE.
The latest code of regulations issued by the Board of Education,
and which came into operation on August 1st last, contains
important alterations of procedure connected with the closing of
public elementary schools upon medical advice; compulsory closing
is regulated in the same manner as by former codes. The sanitary
authority, or any two members of the sanitary authority, can close
a school, but only on the advice of the Medical Officer of Health, who
cannot himself do more than give advice. In previous codes, if
managers of schools considered that the requirement to close was
unreasonable, they could, after closing, appeal to the Board of
Education, but in the current code this power of appeal has been
abolished. Formerly the Board were satisfied if the managers, by
reason of the absence of a large number of children from school,
obtained the sanction of or was acting under the advice of any
registered medical practictioner, and not necessarily the Medical
Officer of Health for the district. But now only the School
Medical Officer can certify that the exclusion of certain children is
desirable on the ground that such exclusion would prevent the
spread of disease, the same officer is empowered to exclude children
from school attendance on the ground that their unclean or
verminary condition is detrimental to other scholars, and also on
the ground that, owing to their state of health or their physical or
mental defects, they are incapable of receiving proper benefit from
the instruction of the school.