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47
whilst it was quite impossible to do so in Paddington. This is no doubt due to a
difference in the type of basements in the two boroughs.
Although the numbers are not very large, yet the children were examined with
great care and the investigation shows that the basement child appears to be deficient
in vitality. This is revealed in its physical measurements, its physical condition, and
in its progress at school. It seems significant also that whilst basement children are
not unduly affected by rickets, a disease of the first year or two of life, they fall a
readier prey to rheumatism which attacks children after the rickets period. Figures
demonstrating the incidence of phthisis amongst basement dwellers would be of
great interest for this disease follows rheumatism in age incidence amongst children..
The effect of basement dwelling is more likely to be cumulative than having its
maximum effect in infancy.
Analysis of the data at various stages of the investigation showed the ratio of
defects between the basement dwellers and their controls to be fairly constant.
For this reason it appears as though little further information would be obtained by
conducting an inquiry on a wider basis.