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officers of health of the metropolitan borough councils has been sought, and arrangements
made whereby a copy of the results of such examinations made by the borough
analysts is forwarded to the school medical officer for information. A proportion
of these reports includes particulars of bacteriological examinations. Copies are
forwarded to the chief officer of supplies, who, in cases where the bacterial content
is high, takes up the matter with the contractor.
The number of samples examined in the Council's own laboratories is being
reduced in consequence of the above-mentioned arrangements with the boroughs.
A result of the sampling being done by the boroughs is that, on any breach of the
Foodand Drugs (Adulteration) Act, 1928, legal proceedings can be taken
against the contractor.
Open-air education.
Provision for education in the open air includes nine day open-air schools
(non-tuberculosis) with accommodation for 1,648 children, and six day open-air
schools (tuberculosis) accommodating 515 children. There are also five country
and seaside convalescent camp schools, accommodating 484 children for periods
varying from one to three months, through which 4,600 children pass annually;
and 200 open-air classes in playgrounds and parks providing for upwards of 6,000
children.
An interesting and successful addition to the open-air facilities in London
was afforded by the experimental residential convalescent camp school, for children
normally attending day schools for the mentally defective.
In May, 1931, an offer was accepted from the Shaftesbury Society for their school
at Loughton (Epping Forest) to be used exclusively for two parties (25 boys and 25
girls) from day schools for the mentally defective for one month each. In accordance
with this arrangement, which was approved by the Board of Education, 25 boys
went to the school in June, and 25 girls in September, together with two teachers
from the day special schools in charge for each period. The charge for boarding
made by the Society was 12s. 6d. a week per child and 25s. a week per teacher.
Arrangements were made for the nomination, by the certifying medical officers,
of any boys or girls in schools for the mentally defective who were noted as requiring
a country holiday for health reasons. From these nominations a selection was
made, parents were interviewed and assessed, and a final medical examination
was made of the boys by Dr. Slowan and of the girls by Dr. Boome. The following
report was submitted by Dr. Boome:—
Boys.—Twenty-five boys were selected from various special schools. They were of varying
ages, and of all grades of feeble-mindedness. From the experimental point of view the choice
of the children was a very good one, showing what could be done with all types of the defect.
I visited the school on three occasions and Dr. Slowan twice. A school nurse visited the school
three times a week and attended to minor ailments.
During our visits the school was inspected, meals seen, and special cases examined.
All the boys were, on arrival and at intervals, weighed and measured and chest measurements
were taken. We found that, in the event of sudden illness occurring, arrangements were made
for a local general practitioner to be called in.
The staff were very keen on making the experiment a success and any suggestions made by
us were welcomed and put into operation. Considering that the two masters had not worked
together before, their co-operation and wholeheartedness cannot be too highly commended.
The gain made by the boys was really striking in physical benefit. All the boys, according
to their headmasters' reports since the return to day school, have done well. One headmaster
stated that he hoped in the near future that more of his boys might have this opportunity.
From the medical point of view the experiment must be considered an unqualified success
and proves that, under suitable conditions, mentally defective children cause practically no
more difficulty than normal children in residential holiday schools or on school journeys.
Girls.—Twenty-five girls were finally selected. They were of various ages, types and grades
of feeble-mindedness. The choice, as in the case of the boys, was a good one, there being a fair
average sample of mentally defective children—not a group selected as specially easy to handle.
A few cases who were passed with some hesitation as an experiment did unexpectedly well.