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12 children in the class had intelligence quotients of between 80 and 90. Only
two were irregular attenders, one of them had had chorea in 1923, and tuberculous
glands before that, with very serious loss of attendance ; the other suffered from
nervous debility and had lost much school time in consequence. Two children who
attend well have myopia; the remaining 8 were merely naturally dull, there being
no defect or illnees to account even partially for their condition, although unsatisfactory
home conditions existed in one or two cases.
There were a further 10 children whose intelligence quotient was below 80.
No less than 8 of these suffered from illnesses or defects, which have interfered with
their progress. One has defective hearing, another has defective hearing and heart
disease following rheumatism, two have some visual defect, one is tuberculous, one
has had a long absence for scarlet fever, and two are of very poor physique and illnourished.
The remaining two children in this set have no physical defects to
account for backwardness, one (I.Q. 78) has recently been admitted from a
country school, and the other (I.Q. 79) comes from a poor home where the mother
is a drunkard.
It is significant that the ten children with the lower intelligence quotients
(70-80) should show such a preponderating number in which chronic illness and
physical defect have occurred, compared with the group of children whose intelligence
quotients are between 80 and 90, who appear mainly to be naturally dull children,
the cause of whose backwardness is mental rather than physical.
Dr. McVail's conclusions resolve themselves into a plea for special medical
oversight and care for backward children, and for smaller classes.
The proportion of children with physical defects is much higher than amongst
normal children. In the two classes combined, 16 per cent. had defective vision,
16 per cent. defective hearing, and 4.3 per cent. organic heart disease, while lung
trouble and general debility were also much above the average incidence. It is of
interest to note that the effects of illness and disease persist long after the disease has
been cured. Habits of inattention acquired owing to defect of the special senses
remain when the defects are themselves corrected.
A further interesting question arises out of this very valuable investigation.
Psychologists interested in mental testing have tried during recent years to maintain
the fatalistic theory that "intelligence" is an attribute of the individual, inborn and
immutable. Nothing, they say, can happen after birth to increase the native intelligence
of the child, and they seem to imply that equally nothing can happen to
diminish that intelligence. The study of these backward children from a physical
as well as a mental point of view, demonstrates, conclusively, that whatever view
may be taken of the first part of this thesis, medical opinion must take a firm stand in
regard to the converse. It is quite clear that defects of the special senses of seeing
and hearing can diminish the intelligence quotient of the individual, as can equally
chronic constitutional disease. As these causes have from time immemorial acted
upon children, we must therefore claim that by preventive medicine, hygiene and
general care, the intelligence of a generation can be improved.
Dr. R. H.
Norman's investigation
into the
occurrence of
albuminuria
in elementary
school boys
Owing to obvious considerations, a full and complete medical examination
cannot be conducted in the conditions under which medical inspection in schools
takes place. Little is, therefore, known of the incidence of albuminuria upon
elementary school children generally. Dr. R. H. Norman has found it possible, side
by side with his routine examination, to undertake the investigation of the incidence
of albuminuria amongst 1,787 boys attending five schools in St. Pancras. Every boy
in each school was examined. Salicyl-sulphonic acid was used as the reagent to
determine the presence of albumin. All who showed an albuminous urine, whether
slight, moderate or marked, were examined a second time after the lapse of a few
weeks.