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108
SECTION IX.
Public Health Department,
Croydon.
July, 192o.
To The Education Committee.
Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen,—
I beg to submit to you my report for the year 1919 of the
School Medical work in Croydon.
It will be observed that the total number of examinations of
children (including the routine and special inspections and the
more extended inspections at the London Road Centre) is 7,806.
The total number of routine inspections is 5,792, and in these 3,196
cases of defect of one kind or another were found, i .e. 55.2 per cent.
The School Medical Service during 1919 was restored nearly
to its normal degree of activity in the latter part of the year, and
it is hoped that practically normal results and conditions will be
revealed in the Annual Report for 1920.
It was my intention to dwell specially this year upon a considerable
number of features which the inspection of the Croydon
School children has brought to light, but as these have recently
been specially under the consideration of the Education Committee
in the report made by me for the medical section of the scheme
prepared under the 1918 Education Act, I summarise only very
briefly the points which would have otherwise required more
extended discussion.
The main needs which the medical work amongst these
children reveals are (1) an increase in the preventive activities of
the Education Authority and (2) an increase in the provision made
for treatment of existing defects.
These two groups of the work are essentially inter-dependent,
and it is not advisable to discuss the principle underlying them
separately. Thus, for instance, in the present report 105 partially
deaf children have been noted in the inspections, and a large
number of cases of ear trouble have been dealt with at the Treatment
Centre. The disadvantage of ear discharge or defective hearing
both physically and educationally is very great, and the two lines
upon which the Education Authority should proceed are clearly
those of the establishment of special classes for partially deaf
children and the appointment of a part-time Ear Specialist.
Stuttering and stammering in school children has also engaged
my attention. Action has been taken during this current year by