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108
There was a family history of tuberculosis ascertained in 42 cases and 25 children
had themselves either been in a sanatorium or had been under observation at
the tuberculosis dispensary.
The children were weighed once a month and their heights were taken once
in three months. They are weighed wearing one garment only, and in this way
it is possible to get accurate weights throughout the year. Average gain in weight :
boys 4.1 kgs., girls 4.495 kgs. It is worthy of note that many of the children have
lost weight during the Christmas and Summer holidays, but in all cases have soon
made this up when they returned to school. It is also noticed that children who are
irregular at school for reasons other than illness invariably lose weight. In wet
weather the children bring dry stockings with them and are provided with school
clogs. Their stockings and wet garments are dried in the special drying room.
There are now facilities for regular bathing and each child is bathed once a week.
The children look forward to their baths and thoroughly enjoy them. During the
very cold weather at the end of the year it was thought advisable to discontinue
them, much to the disappointment of the children.
These regular baths are of great value in training the children in a cleanly
and hygienic way of life.
" The dietary is liberal and of excellent quality and the menus are varied.
Each child is now having a pint of milk daily, and the more delicate ones are allowed
an extra half pint. Butter and fresh-vegetables are given and fresh fruit is allowed
at least three times a week. During the autumn the children fared exceedingly
well in this respect as there was a splendid crop of apples and pears in the garden.
There were no cases of chilblains during the year. The incidence of infectious disease
was less than in the elementary schools and the common " cold " caused very little
absence.
"The cases which do very well are all cases of anaemia and enlarged glands,
healed tubercular peritonitis, asthma uncomplicated by bronchitis, and fibrosis of
the lungs. The children who showed nervous symptoms, e.g., marked restlessness
and inattention, feverish attacks, night terrors, all did well with one exception, and
in this case the home was at fault. The cases which do not make satisfactory
progress are cases of bronchitis, asthma complicated by bronchitis, and children who
show a rheumatic tendency.
"There is still difficulty in getting parents to allow the children to remain after
they reach the age of 14. In some cases this is very desirable if the improvement is
to be maintained. The nights spent at home in bad housing conditions nullify in
large measure the good which has been done during the day. Many of the children
come from very poor neighbourhoods and several members of the family sleep in
one room, more often than not with the windows shut. Late bed-time is another
difficulty, and it is even difficult to get some of the careful mothers to see the
necessity for early bed-time. At the admission examinations the parents are
instructed re clothing, diet and bed-time and every effort is made to get treatment
for defects (e.g., carious teeth, tonsils, etc.) completed before admission. It is
desired to try the experiment of a sunshine class for the coming summer. Negotiations
are still proceeding for acquiring the adjoining land, and this would prove a
suitable site for such a class. Hitherto this additional benefit has been unattainable
owing to the lack of playground accommodation. Physical exercises and practical
and manual occupations are carried out in the open-air. The results from an
educational point of view are also satisfactory. The children showed a considerable
improvement in attention and mental alertness."
Brent Knoll
open-air
school.
The tenure of Birley House having terminated the school was transferred to
Brent Knoll, Forest Hill, on 26th April, 1927. Dr. C. E. Thornton, in his report,
states that the average number on the roll was 137, and the average percentage
attendance 80. Infectious disease, as usual at open-air schools, caused very little