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Medical inspection at secondary school, etc.
The number of pupils inspected in secondary schools was 7,135, namely 3,701
boys and 3,434 girls. As might be expected, the remediable defects are fewer than
among scholars in elementary schools. The pupils aged 12 and 15 were all examined
in detail, but only special children at other ages.
Of twelve year old boys in the secondary schools 74.7 per cent, have sound
teeth, and 76.3 per cent, have normal vision, as compared with 67.7 per cent, and
58.7 per cent, respectively in elementary schools. Nose and throat defects are
reported in 1.8 per cent., in comparison with 8.2 per cent, in elementary school boys.
Of twelve year old girls in the secondary schools, 76.3 per cent, have sound
teeth, as compared with 69.4 per cent, in elementary schools, 65.8 per cent, have
normal vision, compared with 53.6 per cent., and 6.8 per cent, have nose and throat
defects, as compared with 8.8 per cent. The elementary school girls have better
teeth, but worse vision than the corresponding boys.
But little difference is shown in the returns of fifteen year old pupils from those
of twelve year old. The condition of the teeth of the boys aged 15 was rather worse
than in the twelve year old group, and the vision of the fifteen year old boys is distinctly
worse than that of the twelve year old boys, but is, nevertheless, better than
in the girls of the same age. 71.8 per cent, of fifteen year old boys have sound vision,
as against 67 per cent, of girls.
233 men students and 1,093 women students were medically examined in the
training colleges, and 780 male and 861 female students in trade schools, making
a total of 10,102 students seen at the various types of institutions for higher education.
Special inquiries.
Minor ailments.
The arrangements for the treatment of minor ailments are greatly appreciated,
the value placed upon them being attested by the very high numbers of children
attending. Full detailed analysis and classification of minor ailments at every
centre would entail additional cost. In the east end, however, some of the centres
have secured for the purpose the services of the Council's whole-time medical
inspectors. In two of them, Old Ford and Whitechapel, detailed analyses have
been made covering a period of six months during 1923.
At the two centres, the number of new cases (children) was 2,433, and of new
cases (ailments) 2,566. Diseases of the eyes numbered 498 (19.4 per cent.), of the
ear, nose and throat 396 (15.7 per cent.), of the skin 1,173 (45.7 per cent.), accidents
432 (16.7 par cent.), general ailments 31 (1.2 per cent.), and infectious diseases 36
(1.8 per cent.).
Analysis of the 498 cases of eye disease gives:—simple conjunctivitis, 298,
purulent conjunctivitis 27, blepharitis 75, styes 64, defective vision 21, injury 8,
nebulae 2, corneal ulcer 2. nystagmus 1. The 396 cases of ear, nose and throat
defect included: otorrhoea 194, wax in ears 64, ear-ache 40, enlarged glands 20,
deafness 8, foreign bodies in ear 2, tonsils and adenoids 28, sore throat 10, nasal
obstruction 8, tonsilitis 5, deflected septum 4, nasal discharge and rhinitis 1C,
ozcena 1, pharyngitis 1, polypus 1.
The 1,173 skin complaints comprised impetigo 201, "sores" 585, boils 70,
whitlows 58, eczema 35, "dermatitis" 28, chilblains 26, warts 20, pustular rash 17,
ringworm (skin) 16, scurfy patches 15, scabies 12, urticaria 12, herpes zoster 10,
seborrhcea 7, pustules 7, fissures 6, "heat rash" 5, abscess 5, ringworm (scalp) 4,
cellulitis 4, psoriasis 3, alopecia 3, ulcers 3, lupus verrucosus 2, folliculitis 2,
corns 2, papular eruption 2, dysidrosis 2, ichthyosis 2, sudamina 2, prurigo 1,
lymphangitis 1, granuloma 1, scabs 1, excoriations 1, lichen 1, acne 1.
The 432 accidents comprised 129 cuts and wounds, 82 grazes and scratches,
71 burns and scalds, 56 injuries to limb, 32 bruises, 17 sprains, 15 blisters, 10 insect
bites, 7 " swellings," 4 dog-bites, 3 splinters, 3 " pinches," 2 injuries to nail, 1 fishbone
in throat.