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162
Medical inspection has been carried out for the first time during this (Autumn)
term and three visits have been paid, every child present in school on the day of the
visit being examined irrespective of age. The children themselves are rather like
the small, wild things of the forest, very timid at first and needing much coaxing,
but when they realise that the medical officer is not a kind of Lord High Executioner,
who performs major operations on the spot, they become very friendly and anxious
to help in small ways. At the first visit this term several children absented themselves,
but this has not happened since.
The general health and physique of the children seen, on the whole compares
favourably with that of the children of the same social status attending elementary
schools, though general cleanliness, foot-gear and clothing are far below that of the
elementary school child of the same status and are reminiscent of the conditions
met with some sixteen years ago.
It is stated by the Head Teacher that when first admitted to the class, the
majority of the children were in the filthiest condition imaginable; they came with
hair matted together thick with dirt and grime and crawling with vermin—one girl
was so covered with dust and cement that she "looked like an old woman," and it
is of interest to note that the same child when examined during a recent visit was
comparatively clean.
There is now a marked improvement in personal hygiene, hands and faces are
washed at least twice a day in school, hair combed and the verminous condition is
improving and the children are becoming more humanised in every way. The school
nurse has taken a great interest in this work and visits the class whenever she has
a few minutes to spare, and would have done so more often, but having six schools
to visit for measles, she has been prevented; she has, however, paid visits to some
of the parents on the barges and shown them how to cleanse the heads, for it is useless
to send the ordinary printed instructions as very few can read or write, and parents
have been grateful for her help or advice—and it would be very useful if this side
of the work could be developed by allocating more time to it on nurse's rota.
Nurse states that up to the present she has not found any evidence of body vermin,
though bugs have been present on the clothing.
Up to date of writing this report, 32 children (21 girls and 11 boys) have been
thoroughly examined. The following are some of the data obtained. The figures
for boys are put in brackets: Vnvaccinated, 15 (10); nutrition, normal, 21 (10), subnormal,
0 (1); cleanliness, head nits, 14 (5); body fleabitten, 3 (2); teeth, 3 or more
carious, 3 (1); throat, very slight tonsillar enlargement, 3 (2); enlarged but not
causing symptoms, 1; enlarged and glandular enlargements (1). On the whole,
the throats of these children appear much healthier than the ordinary elementary
school child. Vision, of the 19 girls over 7 years of age only 11 could be tested as
having some knowledge of letters and of these 1 read 6/18 with one eye, 1 had extensive
corneal ulceration in one eye, leucoma in the other, and appeared generally neglected
(now under the N.S.P.C.C.). A sister, it is stated, is totally blind, and another child
has corneal ulcers. The remaining 9 girls read 6/6 or 6/9. Of the 8 boys only
5 could be tested and all of them read 6/6 or 6/9.
Of the other physical conditions noted, 1 boy had a slight mitral lesion with
fair compensation—the result of rheumatism after scarlet fever, 1 girl had a slight
bronchial catarrh, 3 girls and 1 boy had slight degrees of anaemia, 1 girl was definitely
mentally defective and had marked inco-ordination, and a second child appeared to
be a border-line case.
Defects needing treatment. Defects needing observation.
Dental 4 Mitral incompetence 1
Vision 1 Mental conditions 2
Corneal ulcers 1
Tonsils 1