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London theatre might be quite unfit to travel with a touring company in a strenuous turn. The
nature of the entertainment and the length of time spent upon the stage must be considered in relation
to the age and physique of the particular child. For the most part beautiful, symmetrcal and
healthy children are chosen for engagement, but, in order to fit certain parts children are
sometimes selected for opposite reasons. Children who are dwarfed and deformed may be
selected for parts where intelligence combined with small size is required. Thus a set of children
aged 12 to 13 may be brought for examination who, ow'ng to rickety dwarfing, are no taller and
heavier than average children of 6. The number of foreign born and coloured children is also noticeable,
the number of negroes and mulattos examined being surprising. Often doubts will arise as to the
propriety of issuing a certificate of fitness, but all these must be resolved with the consideration of the
best interest of the child paramount in the examiner's mind. For instance, here is a small, fragile
child quite unfit, on first impressions, for training. She is accompanied by her parents, both delicate
persons, who get their living by giving entertainments at provincial and suburban music halls. They
wish their child to appear with them on the stage for a few minutes every evening ; the alternative
is leaving the child to be looked after by strangers. In this case the best interests of the child appeared
to be served by granting a certificate. The very individual character of the work of examining these
children makes it especially interesting.
A preponderant number of the children seen under the rules in London can be divided into
two main groups. First those living at home and appearing at high class theatres; secondly those
employed by touring companies.
A committee of experts appointed by the President of the Board of Education to advise as to
the Rules which should be made reported in 1919 generally upon the problems involved. In regard to
the touring children their report points out the very great disabilities under which such children suffer.
Evidence was adduced that they were frequently tired, took little interest in school work, and were
backward in education. The facts as to hours and conditions, said the committee, are undisputed
and speak for themselves. The committee also found itself unable to obtain any reliable figures as to
the number of children employed upon the stage.
The contrast found at medical examination between the two sets of children is most striking
and experience emphasises the special difficulties under which the touring child labours. As a general
rule the child employed at a West End theatre is of superior type, of good physique and soignee to a
degree. On the other hand the touring child springs for the most part from poorer homes where lack of
consideration for physical health and personal hygiene may be the rule. In the conditions under
which the children travel and lodge while on tour there is also manifest difficulty in maintaining the
personal hygiene at a reasonably high standard. It was suggested to the advisory committee above
mentioned that the conditions were so good in regard to the employment of children on the stage that
benefit rather than harm was likely to accrue to the individual child from the employment. Experience
shows that for the touring child in general this is emphatically not the case. When re-examined such
children are often in a state of fatigue and the condition of the skin and hair leaves much to be desired.
On the other hand, in children who are engaged for high class productions at the London theatres there
is often a marked improvement found on re-examination owing to the care and assistance provided by
the theatre authorities.
The number of children presented for examination in connection with licences in London from
1st April to 31st December, 1920, was 276, of whom only 19 were boys. There were three cases in
which certificates were refused or withdrawn for health reasons. The first was a child of 10 with
mitral disease of the heart, the second a child of 11 with congenital heart disease, the third a child of
11 who was on tour taking a heavy part in a play ; this child broke down in health four months after
the original licence had been granted and her breakdown was no doubt contributed to by endeavouring
to sustain her part and travel from town to town while suffering from an attack of gastritis. In a fourth
case a certificate was not granted in the first instance because of the child's anaemic and fatigued
condition and she was consequently not considered in a fit state of health to go on tour. After a holiday
at the seaside, however, she was again presented and a certificate was issued. In nine further cases
a certificate was withheld temporarily while defects were remedied ; in most of these cases the trouble
was "verminous heads."
The defects noted need not be discussed in detail but on the whole they were less in number
than, but not different in character from, the defects found in an equal number of unselected elementary
school children.
A special occupational deformity is to be met with in corns and bunions developed upon the
dorsum of the middle phalanges of the toes in dancing children. It is, therefore, necessary in all cases
where toe dancing is chiefly the occupation of the child to make a careful examination of the condition
of the feet.
Treatment for obvious defects was in all cases secured as a condition of granting the licence.
In 32 instances special restrictions or conditions based on medical grounds were recommended.
In addition to the 276 primary examinations 101 special or continuation examinations were
made.
There is no doubt that the institution of the new procedure has already had its effect in improving
the care bestowed upon stage children but the school medical officer cannot rest satisfied
while such a great disparity is displayed in the health and personal hygiene of children employed on
tour in comparison with the condition of the children employed at the best theatres.
Medical Treatment
The year 1920 has been one of progress both as regards facilities for treatment provided and as
regards methods of treatment carried out.