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school attending population seem to show a wider prevalence of the condition than might at first thought
be deemed likely, and the proportion noted in a residential school would naturally be greater than that
brought to light in the course of ordinary school medical practice. Probably the factors indicated would
explain a considerable proportion of the cases of enuresis met with in the schools, and where the factor
of fear and shame exists any treatment likely to add confidence would be the more likely to produce success.
Calling at night in these cases would act by relief of fear. It might be repeated more than once in the
night, but it is doubtful if more frequent calling would help cases of this type. The possible benefits
of providing a rubber urinal might be worth a trial in some cases of a more persistent type where there
is reason to think the subject is really distressed and desires a cure of the condition.
There is, however, the possibility that in the Industrial and Reformatory schools there may be
cases in which the primary factor is retarded mental and moral development, though this may not
be to a degree certifiable under the Mental Deficiency Act. The evidence from the places of detention
points to a considerable lack of home training in many instances and there have been cases of bed wetting
while the child was awake, in which it is difficult to avoid the conclusion that laziness is a factor. Some
cases have been noted in which the subjects of enuresis always wetted the bed in positions which would
cause them a minimum of discomfort, in these instances some further factor must be at work. That
enuresis is associated with moral degeneracy is shown from the prisons in which the condition is a common
source of trouble. When there is reason to think deliberate carelessness or intention is a factor, the proposal
for hourly awakening for a brief period might prove successful, provided care were taken not to
impair the health of the subject by deprivation of sleep. If a trial be given it would be well to let it
take place in the summer weather and to ensure that no individual be awakened hourly for more than,
say, two nights in succession. Probably it would be found that the intervals could be gradually
increased.
Generally speaking, however, it would seem that the most hopeful line is to raise the general
self-confidence and moral tone by the ordinary methods of communal life, such as appear to succeed in
the majority of cases.
Medical inspection of students in secondary schools, training colleges, and trade schools.
The following table gives the results of the examination of students in these institutions. In the
secondary schools the examinations have hitherto been made bienially, but in future it is contemplated
that a review of every case should be made yearly. The annexed table is comparable with those given
in previous years.
DEFECTS.
Vision » Back.
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INSTITUTIONS. | ] g "§ o a ' » 1 « I §
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0) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) (12) : (13) (14) (15)
L.C.C. Schools.
Training colleges—Males... 92 14 8 — — — — 1 — — 2 — — 6
Females 1,132 141 323 22 20 9 4 16 16 84 100 22 76 118
Secondary schools—Males 1,503 308 215 8 28 9 4 19 10 61 15 8 3 117
Females 4,482 1,161 993 108 251 42 11 100 18 119 567 237 224 624
.
Trade schools—Males ... 597 167 86 3 12 3 3 13 2 10 11 5 4 31
Females... 343 75 66 10 19 2 1 17 6 12 43 16 17 48
Aided by L.C.C.
Secondary schools—Males 310 71 46 2 7 — — — 3 1 — 1 5 13
Females 395 56 83 10 12 2 3 15 3 12 23 14 15 42
Trade schools—Males ... 326 64 28 1 4 3 1 4 1 5 4 1 — 18
Females ... 325 86 60 7 8 5 — 5 1 13 24 5 — 59
L.C.C. scholars at unaided
institutions—Males ...194 9 33 — 5 — — —1 — — — — 7
Females ... 54 li 1 5 — — . — — — — — — — — 8
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