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found to require treatment of one sort or another. Large numbers
of children came to the Central Clinic for treatment and
advice—thus 1,802 attended the dental clinic, 643 the minor ailments
clinic and 612 the ophthalmic clinic. The total number of
attendances amounted to over 12,000.
(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 2.1 per cent, as compared with 2.7 in
1927. The school nurses, who made some 30,000 examinations
of children during the year, found 479 children unclean, whereas
in 1927 the number was 549. 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—89
as compared with 123 in 1927—and in 20 instances the powers
given in section 87 of the Education Act, 1921, were 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—6,432 attendances were made by
children suffering from such conditions.
(c)—Tonsils and adenoids.—One or other or both of these
conditions existed in 11.9 per cent. of the children inspected. One
hundred and forty-seven children received operative treatment at
the Clinic, while 39 were similarly dealt with elsewhere. The
parents of those children who attend the Clinic are given printed
instructions as to the importance of suitable breathing exercises
after removal of tonsils and adenoids, and arrangements are made
for the district nurses and the school nurses to visit the cases for
some days after the operation.