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59
dental service is given in the special account of the investigation by Dr. Livingston
in a later section.
12,810 children in the statutory age groups were referred for treatment for
enlarged tonsils and adenoid growths, as compared with 10,168 in 1926, and 12,876
in 1925. The number referred is 6.6 per cent, of all examined. Entrant infants show
the highest percentage of severe tonsillar and adenoid enlargements, 9.7 per cent, of
boys on entering school being referred for treatment, while the corresponding percentage
of twelve year old boys was 3.1 As in the case of dental decay, here again, the
school medical service inherits as a result of pre-school conditions a large amount of
disease, for investigation has shown that, in the great majority of cases, the unhealthy
condition of the throat dates back to an early age and is already established before
school attendance is commenced.
Considerable difference is noted in the proportion of children referred for treatment
for unhealthy throats by the different medical officers, but as conditions are,
6.6 per cent, does not appear an undue proportion to refer. Unhealthy throats with
enlarged tonsils are noted in a much greater number of children than are referred
for operation, and these children are kept under observation. It is, moreover, reported
that considerable numbers of these children whose parents have been informed of
their condition, although the school doctors have not advised immediate operation,
nevertheless undergo operation between inspection and re-inspection, the parents
taking independent advice and submitting their children for operation at hospitals
or by other agencies outside the Council's scheme. The prejudice remarked a few
years ago against operation for these conditions has now disappeared, owing largely
to the improvement in the arrangements under which the operations are carried
through, and the pressure upon the facilities provided has become very acute in consequence
of the eagerness which the parents evince to follow the advice given.
Otorrhoea (or running ears) was discovered in 2,463 children, a number which
is slightly less in proportion than in previous years. Defect of hearing was recorded
in 868 children (0.4 per cent.), and is again a reduction upon previous findings.
Enlarged glands of the neck are caused in children by numerous unhealthy
conditions of the nose, throat, scalp, face and mouth, and especially by septic teeth.
The number of non-tuberculous children with enlarged glands recorded was 10,181,
being 5.3 per cent. In the previous year, 1926, the percentage was 5.2. Here again
the highest incidence was amongs the entrant infants, the proportion falling steadily
during school life.
51.1 per cent, of boys and 52.9 per cent, of girls at age eight failed to pass the test
for normal vision; the corresponding figures for 1926 were 51.9 per cent, and 54.7
per cent, for boys and girls respectively. Amongst twelve-year-old children, 43.2
per cent, of boys and 46.6 per cent, of girls failed, corresponding with 42.2 per cent,
and 46.3 per cent, in the previous year. While a larger proportion of the children
attain normal vision at the age of twelve years than at the age of eight, the number
with severe defect increases between those years, At age eight, among boys 17.7
per cent, have severe defect, which is increased to 20.4 per cent, at age twelve; amongst
girls, 18.4 per cent, at the earlier age with severe defect, increased to 21.5 percent,
at age twelve.
Owing to increased attention to sight saving in the schools, the prohibition of
sewing in poor light, and modification of the curriculum in favour of those with poor
sight, the much severer incidence of visual defect upon girls than boys is no longer
so marked as it was before school medical inspection became general.
4,599 (2.4 per cent.) were reported to have functional or organic heart defect
compared with 4,783 (2.6 per cent.) in 1926. The older girls continue to present the
signs of heart strain in excess (3.3 per cent, as compared with 2.4 per cent, of boys at
the same age).
Anaemia was recorded in 3,930 children (2 per cent.), an improvement upon the
previous year, when 2.4 per cent, were found anaemic.
Tonsils and
adenoids.
Ear disease
and hardness
of hearing.
Enlarged
glands.
Defect of
vision.
Heart defects
and anaemia.