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asked to receive a deputation from the Council for the purpose of demonstrating the urgent need for the
provision of accommodation for transmigrants and for preventing transmigrants suffering from infectious
diseases from becoming a source of infection to the population of London. The question is still
under consideration.
Residential special and industrial schools.
There are 8 residential and day industrial schools, 1 reformatory, 6 residential special schools
(2 for blind, 3 for deaf and 1 for mentally defective children). In these schools, the health of the
children, as far as infectious diseases are concerned, was on the whole satisfactory. Two outbreaks,
however, one of diphtheria at Portslade Industrial School, and one of ringworm at Highbury Industrial
School, call for brief comment.
The outbreak of diphtheria at Portslade School originated with 2 boys who complained of sore
throat on 3rd August, 1920. They were swabbed with positive result and sent to the Hove Sanatorium.
All the boys at the school, and also the staff and workmen, were swabbed, and during the following
two weeks four additional mild cases were discovered, and removed to the Sanatorium.
The outbreak of ringworm at Highbury Industrial School commenced in September, 1919, when
12 cases were reported from the school. A visit of inspection was made by the school nurse, who
found that some of the cases were tinea circinata (ringworm of the body) and others tinea tonsurans
(scalp ringworm). Cases continued to occur sporadically up to the end of the year. Early in 1920,
the outbreak assumed larger dimensions, 30 cases having been discovered in the first three months.
A considerable proportion of these were, however, cases of tinea circinata, which quickly cleared up
under treatment. On 24th March, Dr. Culverwell, one of H.M. Inspectors of Reformatory and
Industrial Schools, visited the school and made a number of recommendations, which were carried
out. Dr. Lewis, the Council's divisional medical officer, also investigated the outbreak, and arranged
for inspections by the assistant superintendent of nurses from time to time. The boys who were
found to be suffering from tinea tonsurans were referred for X-ray treatment under the Council's scheme.
Examination of candidates.
The number of candidates submitting themselves for first examination during the year was
7,159, as compared with 6,493 in 1919, an increase of 666 or 9.7 per cent. The candidates may be
classified as (a) candidates for entrance to the permanent service, (6) candidates for the award of
scholarships.
Candidates
for permanent
service
The total number of candidates examined was 1,851 (544 males and 1,307 females), but of these
58 attended for their first examination in the previous year. There were, however, 2,101 examinations
(605 males and 1,496 females), the excess being due to the fact that in 282 cases (59 males and 223
females) a second or third examination was necessary. Of the number thus referred, remedial treatment
was satisfactorily obtained in 264 cases ; 17 were rejected ; 7 withdrew their applications ; and
52 were still under consideration at the end of the year. The total number of rejections was 45.
Candidates
for the
award of
scholarships
The scholarships and awards granted by the Council fall into three divisions, each of which requires
different treatment in so far as the medical examination of candidates is concerned. (a) County
scholarships enabling candidates to proceed to institutions of university rank ; (6) Technical scholarships
enabling candidates to receive instruction in trades, and special scholarships; (c) Awards enabling
candidates to prepare for the teaching profession.
During the year the Council has been authorised by the Air Ministry to nominate boys for
training as mechanics in the Royal Air Force. The candidates selected have been medically examined
before nomination and the figures showing the results of the examinations have been included with
those for the technical scholarships described under (b).
The total number of candidates examined was 5,460; these include 94 who attended for their
first examination in the previous year. There were, however, 6,968 examinations, the excess being due
to the fact that in 1,432 cases a second or third examination was necessary. 1,317 (or 92 per cent.)
obtained satisfactory treatment and were on re-examination certified as fit. 134 candidates were
found to be unfit; of these 7 were rejected for two defects each and 4 for three defects each ; 100 were
rejected as the result of their first examination and 34 as the result of subsequent examinations. The
reasons for rejections were:—defective vision 63 ; unsatisfactory personal hygiene 10 ; defective teeth
12 ; unsatisfactory general health 23 ; tuberculosis 3 ; unsatisfactory condition of heart 5 ; miscellaneous
33.
Cases
specially
referred.
There are also referred to the Public Health Department cases in relation to employees in the
Education Service absent owing to personal illness ; questions in regard to students in institutions
for higher education whose health is considered such as to render exceptional attention advisable ; cases
of teachers returning to duty after extended leave of absence (a) owing to personal illness ; (b) for
educational purposes ; (c) to married women under No. 31 of the Regulations in regard to the Education
Service; cases of teachers about to be superannuated; applications for special consideration owing
to wounds, etc., of teachers demobilised from the Forces ; and claims received from teachers and others
in the permanent service for exceptional treatment as regards sick pay and re-imbursement of medical
and other expenses in respect of illnesses alleged to be due to the conditions under which they may have
been required to carry out their duties. The number of cases thus specially referred was 1,806, as
compared with 1,565 in 1919, an increase of 241 or 15'4 per cent.
To carry out the provision of the Education Act, 1918, in regard to the physical instruction of
school children, the Council during the year instituted courses of training for its teachers, and decided
that applicants before commencing their course should be subject to examination by the School
Medical Officer. 745 teachers were examined and 650 found to be fit to undergo the prescribed training.