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preservation of the permanent teeth, the seventh and eighth years are of the chief
importance. A child with, say, slight caries of the teeth at 6 years, has a parent
who refuses treatment. If persuasion fails, at the ninth year, after causing pain
and toxæmia, the tooth must be removed: a remedial operation rather than a
preventive measure."
During 1928 the number of children in attendance at the centres for stammering
children was 269. Of these, 59 were discharged as cured, 38 as provisionally cured,
and 29 left greatly improved, while the remainder was still in attendance at the end
of the year.
During the past six months arrangements have been made for closer followingup
and more co-operation with head teachers.
Miss M. A. Richardson, one of the instructresses, has devoted one session a week
to visiting schools from which particularly difficult cases are sent. There is no
doubt that this will be of great assistance in the treatment of cases where a sympathetic
consideration of the children's particular difficulty is so essential. It is hoped
that this will materially expedite their cure.
Mr. L. G. Bowman, the head master of the Jews' Free School, who has for some
time past been keenly interested in the stammering child, writes:—"It is worthy
of note that the training has a perceptible humanising influence on the character
of the children. They improve in manner and deportment, and their general tone
shows the effect on the spirit of the gradual mastering of their speech difficulties."
There is no doubt that the work of the centres has stimulated in teachers and
parents a greater interest in this very distressing condition.
Personal Hygiene Scheme.
The number of examinations made by school nurses at rota visits during 1928
was 1,850,152, and verminious conditions were found in 233,108 cases, or 12.6 per
cent., as compared with 13.1 per cent. of cases examined in 1927.

Of the 233,108 cases in which verminous conditions were noted, 139,852 (59.9
per cent.) were found to have nits only, while vermin or flea bites were found in
24,424 instances (10.6 per cent.). There was an increase of 211 cases of scabies
during 1928.
Notices
issued and
action taken.
The number of verminous children whose condition was brought to the notice
of parents by advice cards was 94,049, and of this number 44,249 attended voluntarily
for cleansing. It was necessary to serve statutory notices in accordance with
section 87 of the Education Act, 1921, in 26,308 cases, and as a result, 5,819 children
attended the centres voluntarily. Of the remainder, 17,745 were. found to be still
verminous and were taken for compulsory cleansing. It was necessary to take
proceedings in the police courts in 284 cases. Children conveyed by ambulance
from outlying schools numbered 12,015, as compared with 11,102 in 1927.
Co-operation with the medical officers of the City of London and the metropolitan
boroughs in remedying verminous conditions in the homes of children has been
continued.
Classes for
stammerers.