View report page

178
Annual Report of the London County Council, 1910.
Physiology of
Adolescent
Girls.
At a special course for mistresses of girls' schools on the personal hygiene and physiology of
adolescent girls given by Dr. Murrell the attendance was over three hundred. The importance of this
subject and the need for the extension of knowledge is obvious. The following is an outline of the
syllabus of these lectures, which could with advantage be repeated in every district in London :—
I.—Life. Reproduction and death. Methods of reproduction found in all forms of living
organisms from the lowest to the highest.
II.—Adolescence, with its special problems ; (a) Physical; (b) Mental and moral.
Evils to which it is particularly liable with their results. Best method of prevention and cure
and the enormous importance of the former as compared with the latter.
III.—The teacher ; her part as mother substitute; how best to deal with the queries of the
growing child. The intimate connection between health of mind and body. The qualities of true
citizenship are self-respect and clean, healthy living.
Teeth,
A special course of lectures on the care of the teeth was given by Dr. C. E. Wallis to
the parents of elementary school children at each of six schools in the neighbourhood of the Deptford
and Poplar Dental Treatment Centres. The syllabus is subjoined.
Two sets of teeth :—
1. Temporary or milk teeth.
2. Second or permanent teeth.
What the teeth are for. How the upper and lower teeth ought to meet together. If the teeth
do not properly meet the food cannot be chewed and indigestion follows.
Why the upper teeth sometimes project. The harm that is done by the " rubber comforter,"
and by allowing babies to suck their thumbs. Burn all comforters.
Why teeth decay.Importance of keeping the teeth clean, especially at night.
Why vinegar and pickles are bad for the teeth. Why some sweets make the teeth decay.
How to clean the teeth ; common whitening and a piece of clean rag or a toothbrush and precipated
chalk ; a separate brush for each person.
Results of bad teeth ; the body becomes poisoned, bad complexion and skin diseases, bad breath,
poorness of blood (anaemia), indigestion, rheumatic pains and general bad health.
How to make the mouth healthy ; teeth that can be saved ought to be stopped ; teeth that
cannot be saved ought to be extracted, as they poison the body, especially when they do not ache.
Voluntary
Aid Detachments.
Advanced ambulance classes in relation to voluntary aid detachments.
During the year the possibility of arranging classes of a more advanced nature in First Aid has
been considered and a provisional syllabus approved, but as yet the scheme has not been put in practice.
A considerable portion of the instruction required for Red Cross Detachments is covered by the lectures
already available, which must have been taken by all who join these detachments. In the case of
women they must have obtained certificates in Home Nursing and First Aid. In the case of men the
First Aid certificate alone appears to qualify for membership. Although it is improbable that men
in the voluntary aid detachments would have any specific nursing duties in the case of war, the regulations
of the Red Cross Society require training in nursing. If the members of the detachment have taken
the Home Nursing certificate, this instruction will in part have been received, and this is more completely
covered with the present syllabus in Home Nursing, which excludes infant care. The attention
of orginisers of nun's voluntary aid detachments should be drawn to the existence of these classes for
men, as the syllabus covers most of the ground required under the heading " Training in Nursing
Dabies." In classes where most of the pupils are members of a voluntary aid detachment it is possible
for the lecturer to treat the various topics from the standpoint of field nursing and to draw special
attention, to the possibilities of improvisation of materials and apparatus. Although some of the
stretcher exercises can be carried out in evening schools, most of the drill has to be done by the detachments
meeting apart from school facilities. The essential preliminary work for women is dealt with
in the ordinary First Aid and Home Nursing Classes. An elaborate equipment is unnecessary and perhaps
would be a mistake. Additional requirements are small. There would be needed some form of improvised
steriliser (fish kettle), improvised dressing trays (photographic dishes), culture tubes similar to those
supplied to the maternity classes and empty biscuit and coffee tins to hold sterilised dressings and serve
as sterilisers. A good supply of absorbent and non-absorbent wool and other dressings is desirable,
as the routine of dressing wounds must be thoroughly taught. A more extensive equipment of poles,
bits of boxes, cardboard and tow than exists in the schools at present is necessary, but would no doubt
be provided locally by the students, who, if members of a detachment, should take more interest than
in ordinary classes and be more ready to assist, especially if they are made to realise that ingenuity
in improvisation is one of their objects. From the medical aspect, aid is given to the movement by the
ordinary first aid and home nursing classes under the present regulations, and this can be supplemented
by special classes in advanced first aid and sanitation. Syllabuses have been prepared for such classes;
they need not be given in full here, but embrace a course for men's detachments, an advanced course
for women's detachments, and in cookery for the sick, and also the care of soldiers' clothing.