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The admissions month by month remained fairly constant in total numbers.
The falling off in August (50 admissions) and December (52 admissions) may be
attributed to lessened activity of the courts during holiday time and the natural
reluctance to place children on remand at Christmas time.
Physical examination.—A complete physical examination was made in all but
a few cases, who were admitted late at night and had gone to Court early next morning
before examination could be carried out. As a result of the physical and psychological
examinations—
728 were found fit to attend ordinary certified schools,
23 were fit only for special schools by reason of mental defect,
26 feeble-minded and 2 imbeciles were found fit only for institutional care,
6 (all heart cases) were found unfit by reason of physical defect.
Complete records of the examination are available in 724 cases. Tables A and B
show respectively physical defect in detail and a comparison of the physical defect
of the delinquent group with the London age group children.
Commentary on the physical condition.—(a) Nutrition and physique—The
Ponton-road group shows a very marked inferiority in respect of nutritional state
and physical make-up when compared with the average London children as met with
in the age group examinations.
No less than 22.2 per cent. of the Ponton-road children were estimated to be
poorly nourished and 17.9 per cent. to be of poor physique. Compare the 4.5 per
cent. of London age group children found to be poorly nourished.
(b) Cleanliness of head and body and condition of the skin.—The condition of the
skin and hair as regards cleanliness and that of the skin as regards presence or
absence of disease, blemishes, etc., are good indications of the social environment of
the subject. The contrast between the Ponton-road group and the London age groups
is striking in these respects:—
Percentages of children examined.
Verminous heads. Verminous bodies. Skin disease.
Ponton-road 22.1 5.0 16.2
London age groups 6.1 2.6 0.8
Table B sets out in detail the comparison between the physical condition of the
delinquent children and the average London age group children. The very decided
inferiority of the former is shown under every heading.
(c) Functional nervous disease.—Under this heading are included all those
children usually described by the term "nervous." Any undue nervous irritability,
such as blepharospasm, hippus, exaggerated tendon reflexes, marked lack of muscular
co-ordination, etc., was noted and included; 7.5 per cent. showed this "nervousness,"
and it is noteworthy that they were for the most part children of somewhat higher