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168
Annual Report of the London County Council, 1913
9 cases—4 cases scoliosis, 2 cases kyphosis, 2 cases lordosis, and 1 case rotation of vertebrae.
There were 2 cases of flattened chests, 5 cases of shoulders unequal in level, 2 cases of nasal
obstruction. Two of the girls had no special defect. The improvement in the various defective
conditions noted was:—
Two of the cases with slight lateral deviation presented no curve and the shoulders were
level. In one case of fixed lateral curve the muscular tone was good and the girl said she had
much less backache since the commencement of the class. The flattened chests seemed improved.
The cases of unequal shoulders had improved. The mouth breathers were much improved. In every
case there bad been an improvement in the development of the chest, the average increase in girth
being: inflated, 0.87 in. increase; empty, 1.03 in. increase. The headmistress points out that the
girls have shown great improvement mentally as well as physically.
Pritchard's Road, Beihnal Green, N.E. (Girls).—(Br. Agnes Parson).—The class consisted of 20
girls who were picked out from a number of others selected for bad posture or poor physique; of these
12 only were present at the last detailed examination. Several girls were of very poor physique on
entering the class and their nutrition was below the normal. The following defects were found, which
made the children suitable cases for the class:—
Kyphosis, 8 (the curve was not fixed in any case); defective mobility of spine, 5; hollow
back, 2; defective mobility of shoulders, 3; chest expansion, very poor, 2; poor, 5 ; fair, 3; good, 2.
The girls have improved very much in carriage and general appearance, their muscular
development has also improved and they look generally healthier and more alert. The drill is
performed with much keenness and interest, and all the girls appear to enjoy it thoroughly. One
anaemic girl confessed on questioning to feeling tired, and in her case the drill is to be discontinued.
Condition of children in regard to deformity at final inspection:—Kyphosis—much im¬.
proved, 3; improved, 4; no improvement, 1. Defective mobility of spine—much improved, 1;
improved, 4. Hollow back—1 improved, 1 very slight improvement. Defective mobility of shoulders
—2 improved, 1 much the same. Two girls were noticed to have slight lateral curvature of the
spine, in both cases their physical condition had improved, but they will need careful supervision.
Chest expansion—very poor, 1; poor, 1; fair, 3; good, 7.
Church Street, Kennington {Girls) (Dr. Slowan).—Seventeen girls examined in April and
September; 3 were mouth breathers, 9 had varying degrees of curvature, and 5 suffered from
both defects. The three mouth breathers all improved in regard to this condition; the chest
measurement increased 10 mm. in two, and in the third remained unaltered. There were 9
curvatures—4 lateral, 4 antero-posterior, 1 combined.
(a) 4 slight scoliosis (3 to left, 1 to right) —one improved and chest measurement increased
20 mm.; 3 remained unaltered.
(b) 4 slight antero-posterior curvatures, 1 lordosis corrected and chest increased 30 mm. ; 3
kyphosis—1 improved and chest increased 50 mm.; 2 and 3, unaltered, but chest
increased 10 mm. in each.
(c) 1 kypho-scoliosis, unaltered, chest increased 20 m.m.
Five mouth breathers with curvature.
(a) 1 slight lordosis corrected but slight scoliosis appeared, mouth-breathing improved,
chest measurement as before.
(b) 2 slight kyphosis—(1) unaltered, mouth-breathing improved, chest measurement as
before; (2) mouth-breathing not improved, chest increased 10 mm.
(c) 2 scoliosis, both to left—(1) corrected mouth-breathing, improved chest measurement,
unaltered; (2) unaltered, mouth-breathing not improved, chest increased 20 mm.
In 10 of the 17 the chest measurement increased 10 to 50 m.m.
Cook's Ground (Chelsea) Girls (Dr. Lewis).—The children, 20 in number, were selected in
September by the school doctor for physical defects, which required more systematic physical exercises
than are obtained in the usual school physical exercises. A few cases of generally poor muscular
development and mouth breathing were also included. The children attend daily for 30 minutes
immediately before the afternoon session, at the Chelsea Physical Training College, which is situated
quite near to the school (about a quarter of a mile). The children thus have the advantage of a
specially trained student, who takes the class under the immediate direction of the Principal
(Miss Wilke). A table was originally set which has been gradually increased in severity as the
children have improved. The more marked improvement is to be found in the general physique, and
especially in the balance, as tested by a simple balance movement in all cases except two. The chest
expansion throughout the class, with two exceptions, has increased by 2.5 c.m. (average of 18 girls).
The average chest expansion is 6 c.m., and the maximum 8 c.m.
Two children, originally selected for the class on account of general mental subnormality, have
not shewn any marked improvement, but of these one is a girl of such poor nutrition that little
could be expected. The postural curves of kyphosis and scoliosis for which 12 were included all
shew very marked improvement. It should be added that in this class abdominal movements with
the [children lying on the floor were insisted on as a part of the regimen. These exercises are
usually omitted from the school tables by the teachers, and it may be urged that their absence from
the exercises is a grave source of lordosis, inasmuch as the back muscles of the trunk become
unduly developed and lead to permanent lengthening of the rectus abdominalis, with consequent
hollow back and visceral displacement.
This class has been in existence for three years, having been originally started by
Dr. Shrubsall (Assistant Medical Officer), and it has the unique advantage of being always taken by
an expert student of the Physical Training College. As showing how popular the class is among
the children it may be said that the competition to be included is very great, but the number is
strictly limited to 20.