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shows a considerable increase on that for 1926. These special
inspections were conducted both by the medical practitioners,
who have attended the school clinic on two afternoons
a week, and by the School Medical Officer, who holds a weekly
morning session. Of all children submitted to routine inspection
9.8 per cent. were found to require treatment of one sort
or another. Large numbers of children came to the Central
Clinic for treatment and advice—thus 1,666 attended the dental
clinic, 1,105 the minor ailments clinic and 758 the ophthalmic
clinic. The total number of attendances amounted to some
10,000.
(a) Uncleanliness.—There has been a definite decline in
the number of verminous school children detected at the various
inspections. At routine medical inspection the percentage of
children so affected was 2.7, as compared with 4 2 in 1926. The
school nurses, who made some 33,000 examinations of children
during the year, foundi 549 children unclean, whereas in 1926
the number was 755. There has been a continuous rise in the
standard of cleanliness in all schools for some years past, and
there is no reason why the efforts of the school nurses, to whom
with the head teachers all credit for this improvement is due,
should not result in the attainment of a still higher standard in
the future.
Fewer children were dealt with at the Cleansing Station
—123 as compared with 221 in 1926—and in only 10 instances
(42 in 1926) were the powers given in section 87 of the Education
Act, 1921, exercised. In no case was it necessary to take
legal proceedings against parents.
Personal cleanliness is the foundation of personal hygiene
and a child who has been taught to be clean has been given a
fair start on the road to self-respect.
(b) Minor ailments.—These ailments, which consist mainly
of impetigo and other skin conditions, cuts, bruises and such
like, are treated daily at the Central Clinic, and at the three
Maternity and Child Welfare Centres. Over 5,000 attendances
were made by children suffering from such conditions.
(c) Tonsils and adenoids.,—One or other or both of these
conditions existed in 10 9 per cent. of the children inspected.
One hundred and thirty-eight children (nearly 2 per cent. of
those on the rolls) received operative treatment at the Clinic,
while 56 were similarly dealt with elsewhere. The parents of
those children who attend the Clinic are given printed