View report page

11
ditary taint, and sometimes from exposure and want, consequently
many, especially those recently admitted to the school,
suffer for a time from diseases of the skin. But Ophthalmia
quite took the place of skin disease. It was, doubtless, materially
affected by atmospheric conditions, as many more children
were admitted to the infirmary suffering from the disease
when the wind blew from northerly and easterly quarters.
It was seen to affect those children whose diet had been
either insufficient or not sufficiently varied, or those children
who had been exposed to draught or cold.
I am happy to say that by separation, isolation, classification,
by careful mcdical treatment, and an improved dietary
scale, with extra allowance of meat and frequent fresh vegetables,
the disease has diminished in severity and nearly disappeared.
The average annual mortality in this institution for some
years past has been 1 in 200, but 7 deaths have occurred in
this establishment during the year.
Children are admitted into the North Surrey District School
at the ago of 2, and situations arc readily procured for them
as soon as they arrive at the age of 1G. In addition to the
children who are employed in trades and domestic occupations,
all the boys who learn music, are applied for by the colonels
of regiments for military bands.
The Union Workhouse, situated in the village of Lewisham,
is a quadrangular building open on one side to the south, with
a well paved yard in the centre for exercise. It was originally
two private dwelling houses, to which various additions have
from time to time been made; and is now capable of accommodating
235 inmates.
In addition to this there is a separate building about 100
yards from the main building containing wards for the reception
of 1G infectious cases, allowing 500 cubic feet of air for
each case.
There are also yards for laundry and other work, and a
good kitchen garden.
The drainage of the house is into the main sewer.
The water supply is from a well in the yard, and appears
to be abundant and of good quality.
The general wards are ventilated by windows facing each
other and by ventilators in the walls and ceilings, and the
appear to be sweet and free from draught.
The Workhouse receives paupers from the parisncs of