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4
GENERAL.
The object of a School Medical Service is to prevent illness
or to cure disease in its beginning; so that the child while it is
at school may remain healthy and able to profit by its instruction.
The result of a successful school medical service is that the
young adult population of the country is healthy and strong
and not handicapped by the disastrous effects of neglected
disease.
Hornsey school children are inspected on entering school at
the age of 5 years, again at the age of 8-9 years, and yet again
when they are 12-14 years old. Those who remain on at certain
of the schools in the advanced courses are also inspected
medically before the conclusion of their advanced studies. In
addition to these "Routine Groups" a medical examination is
given to "Special" children who in the opinion of their parents
or teachers seem to require it. This frequent inspection at the
schools or in the school clinic secures that no child shall pass
through its school life without being given many opportunities
for the remedy of defects.
To see the results of a slowly operating system is difficult;
but th« older teachers and those who, like myself, have been
observing school children over a number of years are unanimous
in appreciating the difference between the school child of to-day
and the child of fifteen years ago. As our school medical
service increases the scope of its activities, providing the children
with open-air schools and convalescent homes, we may expect
in the future to see a corresponding improvement in the health
and physique of the school children.
SANITARY CONDITION OF THE SCHOOLS.
On the whole this is excellent, especially in the newer
schools.
ORGANISATION OF THE SCHOOL MEDICAL SERVICE.
The Medical Officer of Health is also the School Medical
Officer, and he is assisted by Dr. J. R. Prior and several
part-time medical officers chosen from a panel of local