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290
Orthopaedic
(a) Posture 0.87 6.08
(b) Feet 2.81 19.77
(c) Others 2.47 9.15
6.15 7.45 35.00 29.29
Nervous System
(a) Epilepsy 2.00 1.40
(b) Other 0.40 1.14
2.40 2.48 2.54 2.35
Psychological
(a) Development 0.40 3.94
(b) Stability 1.20 10.29
1.60 2.68 14.23 12.88
Abdomen 0.20 0.87
Other 15.43 37.47
Comparative figures for 1964, where known
A small increase in the number of children noted for observation
in 1965 for psychological disturbances can be seen. A number
of these were referred for child guidance, hence the need for such
facilities to be developed in Greenwich as soon as possible.
Paediatricians report an increasing incidence of catarrhal conditions
and asthma in childhood—these statistics should cause concern,
since bronchitis, known abroad as "the English disease", is increasing
among other age groups and is one of the major causes of
chronic ill health among older workers. Frequently there is a
familial predisposition to develop bronchitis, a tendency which it
is possible to negate by inculcating a healthy mode of life in the
young person and advising suitable employment for the school
leaver.
There was a significant increase in the incidence of orthopaedic
defects in 1965, comparable figures for foot defects are not
available for 1964, but it is not unlikely that the increase is largely
due to "painful feet" caused by present fashions in foot wear and
the progressively early age at which such foot wear is adopted.
When the statistics for the Inner London Education Authority
areas are compared with Greenwich, it is found that the Borough
seems to be above average in some instances, substantially in
relation to the incidence of skin, visual, speech, heart and lung
defects, and the incidence of otitis media and epilepsy is also
recorded as above average for London. On the basis of one year
it would be unrealistic to draw any definite conclusions from these
figures, but we will await the figures for succeeding years with more
than casual interest to see if this pattern is repeated. If it is confirmed,
a more careful local scrutiny of area and individual school
figures will be necessary so that an analysis of possible environmental
or sociological factors can be undertaken by the Department.