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Treatment.—Many a stammer has been confirmed by the wrong attitude of
parents and teachers towards it, whereas if rightly treated in the initial stage, it might
never have developed. The prevention of undue excitement, plenty of rest and
sleep, and above all, intelligent treatment of the child so that his attention shall not
be focussed on his difficulties, are all simple preventive measures. Exercises based
on principles of relaxation and rhythmic co-ordination are invaluable. They further
the practice of ease and rhythm, and are the means of inducing confidence and
mental relaxation.
Voice production methods can do no harm to a stammerer if they do not draw
attention to the mechanism, i.e., the breathing, or the action of the vocal cords.
The husky or wrongly pitched voices so often found among stammerers will usually
adjust themselves with the gradual release of the tension that is causing them. One
of the most important elements in the treatment is relaxation. Muscular relaxation
to begin with, leading as the patient progresses to mental relaxation. This should
be the basis of all treatment. It is invaluable and indispensable. No treatment can
have lasting results which does not enable the patient to acquire physical and mental
repose.
Lefthandedness and Stammering.—Miss M. A. Richardson conducted an
investigation into the incidence of lefthandedness among normal speaking children
in two elementary schools, and compared them with 522 stammerers, which gave the
following results:—
In school 1, among 280 non-stammerers 24 were lefthanded, or 8.57 per cent.
In school 2, among 350 non-stammerers 26 were lefthanded, or 7.43 per cent.
Of the 522 stammerers 23 were lefthanded, or 4.45 per cent.
According to these figures, the number of lefthanded children among normal
speakers would appear to be about double the number found among stammerers.
But although 23 only were lefthanded, Miss Richardson found that 132 of the 522
had lefthanded relatives, which points to a possible connection between the
lefthanded temperament and stammering.
Personal Hygiene Scheme.
The number of examinations made by school nurses at rota visits during 1930
was 1,862,374, and verminous conditions were found in 225,323 cases or 12.1 per
cent., as compared with 12.4 per cent, of cases examined in 1929.

Of the 225,323 cases in which verminous conditions were noted, 127,345
(56-5 per cent.) were found to have nits only.
The Council has two " cleansing schemes " ; one in which only slight traces of
infestation are dealt with at head cleansing centres; the other providing for the
treatment of the more severe cases of infestation of persons and clothing and leading