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35
MISCELLANEOUS WORK.
During the year 70 teachers were medically examined by the
School Medical Officer as to medical fitness for appointment.
In addition to these, a number of tfuant children were certified
foe admission to institutions to which they were committed by the
magistrates, and a few persons were examined for minor staff
appointments.
METHODS AVAILABLE FOR THE TREATMENT OF
DEFECTS.
It is obvious that the chief value of medical inspection lies in
remedying the defects found.
Many of these defects are of minor character, and important
chiefly because they are the earliest indications of incipient disease
or weak points in the physical resistance to a disease which may
later invade the tissues through the channel known to be exposed
to possible attack. Against such risks unquestionably the best
defence lies in the continuous presence and sustained attention
of the school doctor. The modifications of regime to meet the
peculiar requirements of particular cases can be secured where
the Medical Officer is constantly revisiting his charge throughout
the year, and in this the scheme which provides for weekly visits
of the doctor to each department of a school, has manifest
advantages. The actual treatment of cases, however, as distinguished
from preventive supervision is not met or attempted
to be met by the appointment of medical inspectors. Willesden
is unprovided with any general hospitals or hospital out-departments.
The provision for medical attendance is for the most part
such as is embraced in an ample supply of general medical practitioners
who in their private practices deal with the bulk of
medical treatment in the district.
There is, of course, the Poor Law provision, which is of the
same essentially unsatisfactory character, inherent in the system,
B