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109
Report of the County Medical Officer—Education.
18 weeks; it was found that their average weekly increase was .036 kilograms as compared with an
average weekly increase of .019 in the selected unfed controls. The effect of feeding, therefore, was to
increase materially the rate of growth of those children who were constantly fed at school.
Dr. Chaikin examined during September a number of children in two Bethnal Green schools;
these children he again examined after the lapse of six months. To show to some extent the difference
in results which might be expected if physical conditions were taken into consideration in the selection
of the children, the following figures, taken from Dr. Chaikin's report, may be given., indicating the
increase in weight observed during 6 months at these two schools, referred to as School I. and School II.
The groups of children are—
A—Those not fed at school.
B—Those fed irregularly at school.
C—Those fed regularly at school.
Average increase of weight in kilograms in 6 months—
Group A. Group B. Group C.
School I (72) 1.307 (72) 1.158 (26) 2.704
School II (34) 1.305 (33) 1.666 (25) 1.317
The number of children in each group is given in brackets. In School II.,the children fed irregularly,
group B, put on more weight in the time than either those fed at home, group A, or those fed constantly
at school, group C. At School I., on the other hand, the children fed constantly at school, group C, put
on twice as much weight as those fed at home, group A, and more than twice as much as the children
fed irregularly, group B. The original examination of the two schools showed that of the children
originally selected just after the summer holiday, for extra feeding at School II., only 50 per cent, were
below average weight, while at School I. 70 per cent, were below average weight. Better results were
obtained on weighing the children after a considerable interval at School I. than at School II., and this fact
gives some indication that still further improvement would be apparent if the children in the schools,
under-nourished but not on the feeding list, were substituted for those on the feeding list who are
well nourished and about whose necessity there is a grave degree of doubt.
In giving a statement of the results obtained at these two schools it should be pointed out that
the numbers of children investigated are small, and that further extension of the enquiry is desirable
before drawing definite conclusions with regard to the London Schools generally.
3. Inspection of feeding centres.—In addition to the foregoing points, it may be mentioned that
co-ordination with the school medical service is further ensured by the fact that the dining centres in
the districts are visited periodically by the assistant medical officers who report upon the arrangement
so far as they affect the health of the children.
During the autumn term 209 feeding centres were visited and the attention of the Education
Officer was drawn to defects in sanitary accommodation (1), utensils (5), cleanliness (2), lighting (1),
waiting-room (1), nature of meals (9), time allowed (2). These defects were investigated and steps
taken to remove them.
Children out of school for long periods.
The attendance branch of the education officer's department submits each month to the school
medical officer, medical certificates concerning all children out of school for a period of three months
on account of ill-health. A card index of the cases is kept in the public health department. The number
of new cases notified during the year was 5,399, but more than one return has been made in the case
of many of the children and the figures are, therefore, not strictly comparable with those shown in
last year's report. Altogether 9,749 returns have been made. In 2,860 cases medical certificates
were supplied. An analysis of the returns gives the causes of absence as follows :—
Rheumatic conditions—
Acute rheumatism 557
Heart disease 705
Chorea 1,108
2370 24-31 per cent.
Nervous conditions—
Paralysis 136
Epilepsy 168
Brain disease 68
Other nervous conditions 242
614 = 6.28 per cent.
Tuberculous conditions—
Lungs 917
Glands 160
Other organs 216
1293 = 13.36 „
Diseases of chest (excluding phthisis) 738 = 7.56 „
Anaemia and debility 1203 — 12-34 ,,
Ringworm 178 = 1-83 „
Various 205 = 2*10 „
Infectious diseases 341 — 3-58 „
Diseases of skin 380 = 3-88 „
Diseases of ear, nose and throat 459 4*71 ,t
Diseases of eyes 860 = 8-82 „
Diseases of kidneys 103 = 1-05 „
Rickets, etc. 49 .50 „
Scabies 135 = 1-38 „
Surgical conditions 537 = 5-51 „
Diseases of digestion 125 = 1-26 „
Illegible and unsatisfactory certificates 158 = 1-52 ,,
Specific disease 1 = 0-01 „
9,749 10000 „