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171
Report of the County Medical Officer—Education.
C.C.—M.—aet. 12—former phthisis; fourth year of attendance; still makes steady weight
increases.
F.R.—M.—aet. 12—? phthisis; had not attended school for five years before admission;
delicate, distressed appearance; no abnormal lung signs ; large initial increase maintained.
C.S.—M.—aet. 9—? phthisis; had not attended school for three years (under school doctor's
observation with tubercle of left luug); large initial increase.
R.P.—M.—aet. 11—recent operation for tubercular glands; large increase in weight well
maintained.
A.S.—M.—aet. 11—enlarged glands; no diminution in size, but large steady weight increase.
A.W.—F.—aet. 11—tubercular glands; removed by operation; large steady increase in
weight.
In conclusion, it may be noted that this year's work confirms the experience of the previous
six years as to the existence of a class of delicate, weakly children capable of mental and physical
improvement when receiving modified instruction in natural surroundings.
Shooters Hil
School.
This school recommenced work in April, 1913, with 62 children remaining over from the
previous year and 36 new admissions. During the year 51 were admitted and 30 discharged, one
because of rheumatism, as she was not a suitable case, the others because their health had so improved
that they were fit to return to ordinary elementary schools; 31 were attending the Tuberculosis
Dispensary; the defects noted among these were as follows:—
Poor nutrition and suspicion of early phthisis,
including cases of poor chest expansion 21 cases
Malnutrition 1 „
Anæmia 7 „
Adenitis neck (? Tubercular) 5 „
Tonsils and Adenoids 2 „
Defective teeth 12 „
Defective vision 1 „
Rickets 4 „
Talipes Valgus 1 „
Otorrhœa 4 „
Conjunctivitis 1 „
Strabismus 1 „
Polypus, ear 1 „
Scoliosis (lateral) 1 „
Blepharitis 1 „
None had acute phthisis or advanced tuberculosis, evening temperatures were absent
and most had merely suspicious symptoms, such as prolonged expiration at one apex, flatness
on percussion, or merely poor chest expansion coupled with anaemia. A certain number had tuberculous
glands.
The morbid conditions noted as present among the other children were as follows:—
Malnutrition 12 cases.
Early signs, phthisis 14 „
Poor expansion, chest 24 „
Adenitis, neck (? Tubercular) 21 „
Defective teeth 34 „
Tonsils and Adenoids 9 „
Otorrhœa 5 „
Arthritis (Tubercular) 1 „
Eczema 1 „
Anæmia 31 „
Tendency to chorea 2 „
Blepharitis 5 „
Nasal Polypus 1 „
Asthma 1 „
Scoliosis (lateral) 6 „
Kyphosis 1 „
Defective vision 6 „
Paralysis (facial) 1 „
Rickets 2 „
Conjunctivitis 1 „
Rheumatism 1 „
Practically all the dental, throat, eye and minor defects were followed up by the care
committee and treatment obtained. Remedial exercises were carried out at the school for the spinal
cases and those with poor chest expansion, with a result that the difference between inspiration and
expiration was increased in some from 4 cm. to as much as 9 cm., and in the cases of lateral curvature
the Kellett Smith level was corrected with a quarter-inch block instead of requiring an inch block as
originally noted.
23610 z 2