[Report 1948] / Medical Officer of Health, Birkenhead County Borough.

  • Birkenhead (England). County Borough Council.
Date:
1948
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1948] / Medical Officer of Health, Birkenhead County Borough. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    53/74 (page 51)
    The total niuriber of school meals provided during the year was 1,285,738 showing an increase of 89,984 over 1947. Of this former number 1,004,648 were supplied on payment and 281,090 free. Every child attending a Primary or Secondary ^Maintained School receives one-third of a piut of milk fi'ee of charge, and during the year 3,420,140 bottles of milk were provided. CLEANLINESS AND CLOTHING The general standard of cleanliness is satisfactoiy. The Health Visitors made periodic iuspectious during the school terms, and altogether 59,870 examinations were carried out. 1568 pupils were found to be infested with vermin. Under Section 54 of the Education Act, 1944, 8 cleansing notices and one cleansing order were issued. The figures quoted approximate to those for 1947. The Assistant School Medical Officers report that the standard of clothing is generally good with the exception of footwear, which is inadequate and unsuitable in a number of cases. MINOR AILMENTS CLINIC The Alinor Ailments Clinics continued to open daily for the treatment of Minor Ailments during the School Term, and as necessary during holidays. iVlthough attendances have increased, the number of defects treated are not materially greater than in 1947. 13363 attendances were made, and 2498 defects were treated as compared with 9800 attendances and 1984 defects treated during 1947. SCABIES CLINIC The treatment of Scabies and Verminous Conditions remains with the Local Education Authority, 441 cases being discovered necessitating 2552 attendances. All contacts were followed up, resulting in 92 pre- school children and 96 adults also being treated. Disease or defect. Number of defects treated at the Municipal Skin Clinic iluring the year. Scalaes: {a) uncomplicated {b) complicated 55 78 Scabies contacts ^found to be free from scalncs) .... 31 Secondary dermatitis (followino scabies) Diseases of tlie scalp (due to lice and nits) 131 Other skin diseases 146 Total 441 An average of 2 treatments only were required to effect a cure for each case of uncomplicated scabies. Scabies Order 1941.—This Order, made nnder the ]')efence Piegulations, was repealed in duly, so that action where necessarv must now be taken under the kklucatiou Act, 1944.