View report page

69
sister in charge, whereby each child was led to take a personal interest in the healthiness of his gums and
teeth. It is obvious that so long as a child's mouth is foul and septic, whether from the teeth or gums,
it cannot possibly derive the maximum benefit obtainable from the fresh air and good dietary at the
camp school.
During the year 18,000 tooth brushes and 6,250 tubes of tooth soap were sold at the centres and
at the dental inspections held at the schools. This appreciation by the parents of the importance of
dental hygiene must be largely attributed to the influence of the dental inspectors, and shows the value
of the short addresses which are given at the inspections.
The number of anaesthetic sessions at each centre varies with the needs of the locality, but the
general rule is that the session weekly is sufficient for a half-time centre, and two sessions for a whole
time centre. There is, however, a "credit" of extra anaesthetic sessions which can be drawn upon
as necessity arises.
The number of administrations of nitrous oxide was 20,245 and the number of ethyl chloride
administrations 13,438 during the year. Not a single fatality occurred in spite of the very large
number of anaesthetics administered. The use of a local anaesthetic is customary in cases in which
it is required.
(g) Tuberculosis.—At the commencement of the year 1920 the Council had in use 564 beds for
children, of which 306 were in Voluntary Institutions and the remainder in Metropolitan Asylums
Board Institutions. Later in the year additional accommodation was obtained in the latter institutions.
The number of children under treatment on the 31st December, 1920, was 696.
On the 1st January, 1920, 282 boys and 282 girls were under treatment and 506 boys and 452
girls were sent away during the year. The total treated during the year 1920, was, therefore, 1,522
as compared with 1,225 in 1919. In addition, 500 children had the advantage of convalescence
through the Invalid Children's Aid Association, with financial assistance from the Council.
The Council has provided three open-air day schools for children notified under the Tuberculosis
Regulations, 1912, as definitely suffering from tuberculosis of the lungs or from tubercular glands
without discharging sinuses, viz., Kensal House (Paddington), Stormont House (Hackney), and Springwell
House (Clapham Common). The accommodation is for 90, 75 and 125 respectively. In addition,
the Council has provided teachers and educational equipment for a class of 25 children held in the
garden attached to the Fulham Tuberculosis Dispensary, and also for a class of 25 held in connection
with the Camberwell Tuberculosis Dispensary at 6, Grove Hill-road, Denmark-hill. The Fulham
class is to be closed early in 1921, on the opening of an additional open-air school for 50 tuberculosis
children provided by the Council, to be known as the Elizabethan School. Broomhouse-lane, Fulham.
d Supply of
tooth brushes
and tooth
soap.
Anaesthetics.
School.
No. on Roll Reasons for Discharge. Gain or Loss in Weight.
31.12.19.
31.12.20.
Admitted
1920.
Discharged
1920.
Fit for E.S.
Work.
Transferred
to Hosp. or
Sanat.
Removed
from district.
Transferred to
Sp. School.
Other reasons.
No. Gained.
Average gain
in kilos.
No. lost or
stationary.
Average loss
it. kilos.
Kensal House 94 91 31 42 14 6 7 10 1 3 57 3-27 — —
Springwell House 81 130 103 54 24 9 12 2 1 6 111 2.38† 7 —
Stormont House 35 83 64 13 1 4 3 1 — — 54* 3.5‡ 1 .6§
* Children at school for more than 6 months. Accommodation of school increased from 50 to 75 in August, 1920.
† Refers to 61 children who were in the school for 12 months.
‡ Refers to 29 children who were in the school for 12 months.
§ Children in school less than 6 months.
The following are the occupations taken up by children who have left Kensal House School during
the year:—
Cabinet-making. Secretarial training.
Making lamp-shades. Domestic service.
Clerk. . Working at home.
The tuberculosis officer attached to the tuberculosis dispensary in the borough in which cach
school is situated has been appointed on the staff of the school medical officer for the purpose of supervising
the health of the child en, and he visits the school on at least one half-day a week. The dispensary
nurse spends part of each day at the school. In the selection of the children preference is given to
children who have had sanatorium treatment, and regard is paid specially to the condition of the homes.
Children are not admitted if the home conditions are likely to nullify the advantages of the open-air
school.
The medical officer of Stormont House, in his report for the year, concludes as follows:—"Taking
everything into consideration, I am convinced that the result of treatment at the school has been a
marked success. Whether the direct supervision of the rest and exercise of each child, or the fact that
the children are practically always in the open air, or the excellent midday meal and milk, is responsible,
it is difficult to tell, but probably the success is due to a combination of these. It is most encouraging
to see the progress of each case, as illustrated by the fall of the temperature, the improvement in signs
and symptoms, the increase in weight, and the happy mental outlook of the children."
During the summer of 1920 the Invalid Children's Aid Association, with financial assistance from
the Council, sent 170 of the children attending these schools to convalescent homes at the seaside.