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15
The following tables show the number of children who had been out of school
for three months or more in November, 1930, and comparative figures for the
three previous years. The numbers remain fairly constant, but it may be noticed
that the proportion of the total suffering from nervous disorders has steadily
declined.
The number of children absent on account of rheumatism and associated
conditions, including heart disease, forms a very high proportion of the whole
(32.8 per cent.), and the figures bring out in a startling manner how largely this
group of conditions looms in the production of chronic ill-health in childhood (and,
of course, afterwards).
There were children absent in respect of epilepsy 50 cases (nervous disorders)
and with encephalitis 12 cases (infectious diseases). Amongst "other ailments"
were 122 children with respiratory diseases other than tuberculosis, 39 with ear
diseases and 45 with infantile paralysis.

Wage.earning Employment of School Children.
The applications during the year 1930 for medical certificates, in connection
with the employment of school children out of school hours under the by.laws,
numbered 4,030, including only 46 girls, compared with a total of 4,155 in 1929.
The nature of the work for which certificates were granted was for boys (girls in
brackets)—Delivery of milk, 209; delivery of newspapers, 2,343 [29]; carrying or
delivery of goods or parcels, 605 [5]; in or in connection with a shop, 286 [7]; in a
coal yard, 4; industrial work at home, 7; home work away from home, 19 [3];
as a messenger, 58 [2]; not stated, 24; 87 boys and one girl were granted certificates
in respect of two or more occupations.
Certificates were refused on medical grounds in the cases of 71 boys. In 200
cases the certificates were granted subject to medical treatment being obtained, and
in 138 additional cases other conditions were imposed. In 11 cases the provisional
certificates were withdrawn on account of the non.compliance with the conditions
under which the certificate was issued.
The number of children seen under the regulations for children employed in
stage entertainments was 214, of whom 27 were boys and 187 were girls.
Five boys were given certificates conditional upon treatment for defects (1 skin,
2 dental, 1 vision, 1 deformity); 26 girls were given conditional certificates (6 skin,
1 external eye disease, 7 vision, 10 dental, 2 deformity).
Three children were rejected; one on account of skin disease, one on account of
deformity, and one for neurosis; all three were girls.
A condition of flat foot was frequently noticed in girls who were dancers: this
condition at rest appears to be natural in such children, it disappears when the foot
passes into activity and gives rise to no symptoms.
Children
employed in
stage entertainments.