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83
Results of Medical Inspection.
The number of children in the statutory age groups inspected in elementary
schools during 1925, was 197,702, being 4,817 more than in the previous year.
These included 82,209 entrant infants, 49,871 eight-year-old and 65,622 twelve-yearold
children. The difference in the magnitude of the groups reflects the alterations
in the birth-rate immediately before, during, and just subsequent to the War.
1,652 additional children were seen in their age groups at mentally defective, deaf
and myopic special schools. Owing to the operation of the three-year programme
under which the inspection of all children in the term before they leave school has
been resumed since April 1st, 1925, a further 41,011 children in the elementary schools,
were spected during the year. There has, therefore, been a very large increase
in the primary medical work in the schools which has affected inevitably the
ancillary work arising out of medical inspection. This in itself represents a considerable
growth during the year in the arrangements made for the medical care
and oversight of the school population.
42,882 children were specially medically examined in detail (outside the age
groups) who were presented to the doctors by care committee workers, school nurses,
head teachers and attendance officers, either because there were indications of
failing health or because they were absent from school.
An additional 33,475 children were inspected in connection with school journeys,
open-air classes, camp schools and so forth. Furthermore 159,388 reinspections
were made of children who had been noted as ailing at previous inspections.
102,533 children examined in the age groups were referred for treatment for
various kinds of ailment. These included dental conditions. The percentage referred
for treatment was 42.9 compared with 38.5 per cent. in 1924. The increase is due
to the larger proportion of children referred for treatment for enlarged tonsils and
adenoid growths.
The physical
condition of
entrant
children.
The examination of the entrant infants is a very important, probably the most
important, part of the routine work in the schools. This examination partakes
of the nature both of a routine and of a special examination. For the first time
in their lives a large number of these little children come under medical observation.
At the other age groups the children have been daily under careful observation
by educated people, have been seen frequently by the school nurses, and those with
obvious signs of disease or defect, mental or physical, have been brought as special
cases before the school doctor. Partially blind children have been sent to myopic
schools, deaf and partially deaf children to deaf and hard of hearing schools. epileptics
to colonies, mentally and physically defective children to special schools, tuberculous
children to the dispensaries and open-air schools and so on.
In the older age groups, therefore, we are dealing with a selected population in
which abnormal children have been screened out and numbers of ailing children
treated.
The entrant children, however, have enjoyed little of this preparatory work
and nothing that can be compared with the constant care and supervision given
to the school child. It is not surprising, therefore, that a comparatively large
incidence of disease and defect is found amongst them.
Fortunately, the parents attend very well in the case of the entrant child, and
this gives the school doctor a great opportunity at the outset, not only to point out
and discuss with the mother the health and condition of the child but to give such
advice as will materially influence the child's upbringing.
Nutrition of
entrant
infants.
During the past few years the maternity and child welfare centres have been at
work as the agencies which supervise the health of the child in the pre-school period.
It will be useful, therefore, to compare the results of the examinations of the entrants
to school over a period of years in order to ascertain how far there has been a change
in the condition of the health of the pre-school child, and in what directions the