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107
Dr. J. G. Duncan reports:—"The school which was opened in November, 1925,
has now completed its second year. During the first year it was frequently difficult
to persuade parents to allow their children to attend the open-air school, more
especially if they lived some distance away. The prejudice has now almost entirely
disappeared. In fact, many of the parents have applied for admission for their
children, and there are several instances of two members of the same family being
in attendance. The children themselves enjoy the life thoroughly and seldom wish
to return to the ordinary school.
"The weather conditions, unfortunately, have not been favourable during the
year. There were 152 fine days and 74 wet days. It was possible for the children
to rest outside on 143 days. Visits were paid to the school for medical inspection
every fortnight, and every child was examined once a term. In the case of the more
delicate children, examinations were made more frequently.
"In 1927 there were 199 children in attendance. Of these 65 were admitted
during 1927 and the remainder were those who had been in the school from 1925 or
1926. 51 children left during the year. The reasons for leaving school were—over
age, 19 ; elementary school, 25; left (left district, parents' request, etc.), 7. The
number remaining was 148. The average length of stay was twenty months.
Children remaining in attendance (148). Children who left during 1927 (51).
Much
improved.
Improved.
No
change.
Total.
Fit.
Much
improved.
No
change.
Total.
Anaemia and glands 5 6 2 13 — — — —
Anæmia 49 24 6 79 24 4 3 31
Enlarged glands 5 2 1 8 6 — 28
Debility and malnutrition 10 9 6 25 — — — —
Fibrosis 5 2 1 8 — 2 — 2
Bronchiectasis 1 1 — 2 — — — —
Suspected phthisis 3 2 — 5 2 1 — 3
Old pleurisy 1 — — 1 — — — —
Pneumonia and empyema 1 — — 1 — — — —
Asthma 2 1 — 3 — 1 — 1
Tubercular contact 1 1 — 2 — — — —
Tubercular bone (quiescent) 1 — — 1 — — — —
Tubercular peritonitis (quiescent) — — — — 1 — — 1
Tubercular hip (quiescent) — — — 2 — — 2
Malnutrition — — — 2 — — 2
Nephritis after diphtheria — — — — ] — — 1
Totals 84 48 16 148 38 8 5 51
"Many of the children made remarkable progress during the time they were
in attendance, and notes on one or two examples are given here.
Boys—(1) G.E. was admitted suffering from marked anæmia and enlarged
glands. His father had been in a sanatorium with phthisis, and two brothers were
in attendance at P.D. schools suffering from healed tubercular disease of joints.
In two years he had gained 14'4 kgs. and was in excellent health.
(2) J.S. before admission had been at Margate for a year suffering from tubercular
peritonitis. In ten months he had gained 8.2 kgs. and there were no signs of
disease. His general condition was very good.
Girls—(1) D.J., five children in the family had died of tuberculosis and this
girl had been under observation at the tuberculosis dispensary for suspected phthisis.
In two years she had gained 10 kgs. and was in excellent health.
(2) M.D. was under treatment for suspected phthisis. For the first ten
months she gained very little weight but during the following year she gained 7 kgs.
Her general health was good and there were no signs in the lungs.