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At 1st January, 1908, there were 78 children on the roll and only four were admitted
during the year. Two were discharged as cured during the first quarter, seven during the second
quarter, 13 during the third quarter, and 30 at the end of the year : of these, 26 were cured
by the X-rays, the installation having only been working since July. At the close of the year
there were 30 remaining on the roll, and several of these are to be detained only a few weeks
for further observation to make sure that an effective and permanent cure has been obtained.
SICKNESS, ETC., IN CLASS.
In one Boys' Department the District Inspector made the following report:—
Boys.—In the sixth standard no less than 34 boys out of 56 have suffered with some more or less serious
physical infirmity during the year. In fact the condition of the class would point to the necessity not merely for
the medical inspection of the boys, but of careful advice and treatment.
On further enquiry the inspector added that he did not infer that these boys were any worse than
those in other parts of the school; their class master is a little more observant of and interested in
their condition.
It is worth putting this teacher's notes on record as an example of conditions, which will in a
few years time probably be almost unbelievable, and also as an example of a teacher's fine interpretation
of duty, although in about one third of the cases the parents could not be stimulated to take any action.
G.B. —Abscess on buttock, so that he could not sit. Ringworm, absence 8th January to July, 1908.
Alb. G.—Aaenoids and enlarged tonsils. Eight visits to hospital.
Alf. G.—Deafness, adenoids suspected. No action.
S. C.—"Scattered Homes" boy. Defective vision, spectacles supplied by the Guardians. Aural discharge
detected in school. Attended by medical officer to Guardians, then out-patient at London
Hospital. Left—over age.
S. da C.—Tonsils operated on at London Hospital, December, 1907.
G. D.—Tonsils removed at Gt. Ormond Street, November, 1907. Suffered St. Vitus dance. Wears glasses
for visual defect.
G. P.—Epileptic fits all school life ; less frequent this year.
R. P.—Deafness. No action taken by parents, just left.
B. R.—Defective vision. Absent under hospital, November, 1907—March, 1908.
G. R.—Defective vision. Glasses supplied and worn till he left.
A. S.—Defective vision. Both parents seen. No action.
N. S.—Defective vision. Parents written to, father just died. No action.
H. T.—Defective vision. Parents written to and seen. No action taken. Since left for Sir John Cass'
School.
P. W.—Tonsils removed, 23rd December, 1907.
A. W.—Defective vision. No action taken by parents.
I. Z.—Deafness after diphtheria. Speech affected.
W. G.—Out-patient at London Hospital with urinary trouble.
W. E.—Defective vision. Glasses supplied and worn.
E. B.—Defective vision. Glasses supplied and worn.
C. E.—Defective vision. Glasses supplied and worn.
G. R.—Polypus in nose recurring. Has been removed nine times.
J. M.—Deafness in left ear detected in February. Attended London Hospital. Operated for adenoids
March, 1908.
G. B.—Tubercular glands in neck, Autumn, 1907.
R. W.—Severely cut about head by father with bottle. Attended hospital three weeks in January. Father
had given him a black eye previously.
J. A.—Absent twelve weeks with pneumonia.
A. B.—Absent four weeks with pneumonia.
S. T.—Speech affected by cleft palate. Examined by doctor, February.
H. B.—Injury to knee in climbing wall, receiving no attention. Message to parents. Taken to London
Hospital. Absent six weeks.
A. G.—Defective vision. No action taken.
T. A.—Defective vision when tested.
FACIAL ERYSIPELAS IN A CLASS
On 21st March a letter was received from the head teacher of the Girls' Department at New Park
Road stating that there had been three cases of erysipelas in standard VI. The first case, A. S., occurred
on February 19th. Her nose was "swollen and extremely red and shiny." It was diagnosed as erysipelas
by a medical man. She was out of school for a month, returning on 16th March, and was examined
there on April 8th; she was noted as undersized, poorly nourished and poorly clad, evidently convalescent
from a serious illness which there was no reason to doubt was correctly diagnosed. The second case,
M.C., occurred on March 12th, three weeks after the first case and before her return to school. Her
face under the right eye became swollen, red and painful. She was sent home and treated by applications
of flour. She was seen in school on March 26th, as a well clad refined and delicate girl. Some
swelling still remained as a bagginess under the right eye and the whole history was quite consonant
with a slight attack of erysipelas. The third case, A.M., ceased attendance on March 16th ; she had no
contact with either of the previous two ; but stated that M.C.'s face was exactly like hers at the start.
Her mother on April 8th gave a very definite history of erysipelas which started in a small spot under the
left eye ; the nose and eyes becoming red and swollen, and then it spread down the neck with watery
blisters that hung in bags. On examination she was healthy and well grown. The face was still somewhat
swollen and there was no doubt that she had had erysipelas.