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161
The number of boys examined, their ages, and the number found with albumin,
are shown in the following table:—
Age.
1 7'
8. | 9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
Total
Number examined
. 60
241 1
268
251
274
287
301
80
25
1,787
Number with albuminuria
6
46
51
57
66
65
86
27
10
414
Percentage with albuminuria
10
19 |
19
22.7
24
22.6
28.5
33.7
40
23.1
From nine years, upwards, there is an increasing incidence of albuminuria with
age.
Dr. Norman says that it has not hitherto been appreciated sufficiently, how
frequently albuminuria is to be found.
It has been noted in older schoolboys and young adults, and for this reason it
has been termed "adolescent albuminuria," but it must be noted that it frequently
occurs at the ages below ten, although it increases in incidence as puberty
approaches.
An important point about the typical albuminuria of early life is the irregularity
of its appearance. Because of its usual absence in the urine passed on rising after
a night's rest, and its presence later in the day, it is frequently termed " orthostatic
albuminuria."
On re-examination of those boys found on the first occasion to have albuminuria,
it was found that amongst the 7 year old boys 50 per cent. had ceased to be albuminuric,
of the 8 year old 47.9 per cent., of the 9 year old 51 per cent., of the 10 year,
49.2 per cent., of the 11 year old 39.4 per cent., of the 12 year year old 40 per cent.
of the 13 year old 34.9 per cent., of the 14 year old 26 per cent., and of the 15 year
old 20 per cent. So that in addition to the incidence increasing with age amongst
school boys. there is also an increased persistence with age.
Dr. Mabel
Russell's
report on the
condition of
canal boat
children.
Ihe Barge Class (Union Place. Padding ton Wharf).—Ihis class is composed of
children from the various barges which from time to time come to anchor in
Paddington Wharf.
The class is held in a room on the ground floor of the "Boatman's Institute"
(a mission to canal workers), Union Place, and the children attend for the short
period during which the barges to which their respective families are attached are
loading or unloading, these periods varying from a single session to three days
or rarely a week at a time. Open-air drill and play take place in the adjoining
street (practically a cul-de-sac). The children of the bargees were originally gathered
together by the missioner at the Institute and these were formed into a class and
taken over by the L.C.C. in June, 1924, being attached to the girls' department of
St. Michael's, Star Street, Paddington, under the direction of Miss Cole, the Head
Teacher.
There are 76 children on the roll, but the number present during any single
session varies from day to day—i.e., one day during the week that the school was
visited there were 31 children in attendance, while the day following only 13 were
present, and one of the difficulties that the class teacher has to contend with is this
variability of numbers.
Most of the bargees voyage between Paddington Wharf and West Drayton
carrying building materials, but a few travel to parts of the country as far distant
as Birmingham. Up to the time of the formation of this class only one or two of
the children had attended any school, and those only for short periods, and there are
children of 13 and 14 who do not even know their letters.
The children on the roll (of both sexes) vary in age from 5 to 14 years, attendance
is voluntary and the existence of the class is made known to the parents through
the agency of the Mission and Institute, and it may be stated that having once
attended, the same children return to the class each time as opportunity
occurs.