View report page

61
of bad posture especially if there is slight scoliosis the child improves rapidly if she has in addition
special exercises at Britannia Row—two girls are at present having these special exercises.
"One girl in the class who had a very intractable eczema started to clear up after several
months' attendance at the class, and though the eczema still does recur it is not nearly so severe.
In nearly all the cases they are, of course, below standard—this is often on account of lengthy
absences before admission to the class, but even the most backward show some improvement;
after six months there is an increased interest in the school work and a greater power of attention."

The stay of the children (who are selected by the school doctors during medical
inspection) at the above schools varies from one to three months.
A considerable amount of special remedial work is carried out at the King's
Canadian school, a fully equipped dental clinic is constantly at work there
and especial attention is given to minor postural deformities so common in
debilitated lads.
Mr. W. H. Devonshire, the Director, has submitted the following report:—
"Report on remedial work at the King's Canadian School for the year ending December 31st,
1930.—Individual treatment was given to 242 boys, and treatment in small groups according to
their disability to 977 boys, making a total for the year of 1,219 cases.
"We have attempted, with, I think, a large measure of success, to deal with the problem
of the ever-growing number of cases of flat feet visiting the school: 476 cases in the earlier
stages, before any marked changes had occurred in the formation of the joints, were selected
for treatment and visible improvement has been noted.
"The scheme includes the teaching of a few simple exercises until the boy knows them
by heart. He is then given a card on which the exercises are printed and encouraged to practise
them daily. Finally, his parents are advised to have his boots wedged on the inside and to see
that the boy continues his exercises on his return home.
"This has naturally taken many boys from some of the other sections of our work—a
summary of which appears below. All cases are selected by our school medical officer and
re-examined on the conclusion of their stay.
School roll during year 2,821
Boys to whom remedial exercises were given 1,219—43.2 per cent.
"Summary of 'remedial exercise' cases:—
Flat foot 476
Round back and flat chest 271
Bad carriage, etc. 176
Lateral curvatures (chiefly postural) 126
Lordosis (10 per cent. leaning backwards) 116
Torticollis (early cases) 2
Shallow breathing (marked cases) 48
Special massage (post fractures) 3
Height increase 1
Total 1,219
Children who have been away under the convalescent camp scheme are kept
under observation by the children's care committee concerned; in many cases a
special report is supplied at the end of six months after return. Many of the reports
testify to the excellent care taken of the children and the benefit which they derive.