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general practitioners unless remedial exercises were held at their school. Those needing
breathing exercises were sent to their general practitioners for referral to the nearest
hospital out-patients' department.
Survey of School Treatment Centres
On behalf of the Medical Adviser, a comprehensive statement was prepared of data relating
to all school health services clinics in the Borough. This necessitated visits in May 1967
to all premises where minor ailments, special investigation, vision, audiology, school dental,
and school physiotherapy clinics were held and speech therapy was provided.
Drug taking amongst schoolchildren
In order that staff at schools should be fully aware of what might be possible evidence
of drug taking, letters and booklets were sent to headteachers of all secondary schools giving
information on symptoms. They were asked to contact the school doctor if they were suspicious
that a boy or girl was taking drugs. The school doctor could examine the child if he or she
did not object; but the parent's consent should be obtained if there was any objection from
the child. Dr. Arnold, Deputy Medical Officer of Health, acted as co-ordinator for all
matters concerning drug taking in schools, all information being sent to her.
A full day course on the subject for staff, head teachers and other interested teaching
staff in the Borough was held at Finsbury Town Hall in October. Health Education Officers
and staff of other Boroughs were also invited.
Only three suspected cases of drug taking were reported from schools in the Borough
during 1967 and in none of these cases was the doctor able to find any evidence.
Although I wish to do everything possible to discourage drug taking, I am glad to say
that from my experience this problem amongst school children is, in my opinion, not as great
as the widespread publicity in the press etc. has made it out to be.
Tuberculosis Incidents
A notification was received during the year that an 18 year old schoolboy was suffering
from pulmonary tuberculosis. Following investigation of child contacts, ten children were
found to be in need of treatment. One of these was found to be suffering from tuberculosis of
the cervical glands.
B.C.G. Vaccination
Four more schools were visited this year resulting in 1,879 schoolchildren being Mantoux
tested (600 more than in 1966) at 23 schools. 1,697 of these children were given B.C.G.
vaccination, 79 were x-rayed and of these 47 were found to need treatment.
Prophylaxis Sessions in Schools
The number of immunisation sessions held in primary schools in the Borough increased
from 34 in 1966 to 43 in 1967. Of these 32 compared with 26 in 1966 were first visits and
3,172 children compared with 2,285 last year received complete courses of immunisation. A
further number of children started courses of immunisation at these sessions and were referred
to local welfare centres for completion. It is estimated that the average percentage of
children protected by immunisation in the schools was raised by 15%.
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