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hygiene 1; defective teeth 3; unsatisfactory general health 14; unsatisfactory
condition of heart 12; miscellaneous 49.
Cases
specially
referred.
There are also referred to the Public Health Department special cases of
employees in the education service absent owing to personal illness; questions in regard
to students in institutions for higher education whose health is considered such as to
render exceptional attention advisable; cases of teachers returning to duty after
extended leave of absence (a) owing to personal illness; (b) for educational purposes;
(c) to married women under No. E.22 of the Regulations in regard to the education
service; cases of teachers about to be superannuated; applications for special consideration
owing to wounds, etc., of teachers demobilised from H.M. Forces; and
claims received from teachers and others in the permanent service for exceptional
treatment as regards sick pay and re-imbursement of medical and other expenses
in respect of illnesses alleged to be due to the conditions under which they may have
been required to carry out their duties. The number of cases thus referred was
2,934, as compared with 2,333 in 1921, an increase of 601 or 25.76 per cent. The
major part of these consisted of teachers, of whom 312 were men and 1,263 women;
126 men and 527 women being referred for consideration more than once, a few
being referred not less than six times. The increase is attributable, apart from the
gradual ageing of the teaching staff, to the change of practice relative to teachers
absent owing to sickness, other than those suffering with nervous complaints.
Hitherto non-nervous cases have been referred to the department after an absence
of two months, but at the beginning of the year under review, it was decided to refer
such cases at the conclusion of one month, and to instruct the teachers that those
proposing to leave London must ascertain through the Education Officer whether
the Medical Officer wishes to see them.
Exchange
teachers proceeding
overseas.
One of the London teachers who had been given leave of absence to proceed
overseas under the interchange of teachers scheme had a serious breakdown
while teaching in Canada and it was therefore thought that it might be a desirable
precaution to enquire into the state of health of teachers proposing to exchange in
either direction. Arrangements have been made accordingly and it is now the
practice to forward to the overseas authorities concerned a medical certificate in
resnect of each teacher.
Physical
education of
teachers.
All applicants for admission to the Council's course of physical instruction,
instituted during 1920 in order to train teachers to carry out the provisions of the
Education Act, 1918, relative to the examination of school children were examined.
567 examinations were conducted, and over 13.9 per cent., actually 79 candidates,
were found to be unfit to undergo the prescribed course for the reasons specified,
viz., heart 14; general condition 40; war wounds 3; miscellaneous 22.
The examination of applicants for admission to these courses generally is limited
to what is practically useful, and also to what is reasonable or convenient to ask
every teacher to submit. Where the necessity arises, however, more exhaustive
examination is made in any direction which appears to be essential. The previous
health records of all candidates, as known to the department, are laid before the
examining doctor, who also makes notes on the record of the examination which he
is conducting. The name of the applicant is verified, and then the general appearance
of the applicant is compared with the recorded age. A prematurely old person
often has to be considered unfit. The visual acuity and strength of any glasses worn
are recorded, as there is risk of damage in certain eye conditions. Eye movements
also often have to be tested. The general appearance as to nutrition, condition of
blood, breathing and so on, and the facies as regards nervous symptoms are all assessed
as well as the attitude which displays certain abdominal disabilities, spinal rigidity,
flat-footedness and other hindering conditions. The condition of the teeth is inspected,
as dental sepsis so often leads to lowering of reserve powers; any signs of
deafness are also followed up. The hands and fingers are extended to note the
general muscular bearing and any tremor or nervous hesitation. The pulse is