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93
In Bermondsey the assistant medical officers of the local authority conduct
lectures and demonstrations in the schools.
Dr. Hutt, the medical officer of health of Holborn, reports that 1,300 senior
children in the schools of that borough wrote essays on health lessons for which
prizes were given. Dr. Hutt says, " We are much indebted to the teachers for their
kind and invaluable co-operation. It is they who establish in the minds of the
children a health conscience." A competition was also organised for the design
of health posters. Ninety designs were received from four schools and three prizes
were awarded.
The treatment centres are capable of becoming in truth health centres, and
parents visiting them learn much in regard to the general care of their children.
The Downham treatment centre proclaims itself as a health centre, and sets an
example in this respect by organising public lectures including cinematograph
displays. The titles of the lectures arranged include " The Health of the School
Child," " The Care of the Teeth," and " The Difficult and Backward Child."
Red Cross " links " have been established in many schools particularly in the
south-western division. These are intimately associated with the work of the
school nurses, and give great assistance in creating enthusiasm and a " public
opinion " amongst the school children in regard to cleanliness and hygienic living.
There is a demand for health instruction on the part of the young population over
school age. In the evening schools 178 classes with 5,756 pupils were held. These
classes are conducted by selected medical practitioners and comprise as subjects
infant care, health, home nursing and first aid.
There are also lectures provided by the Education Committee at 26 day schools
for mothers, which were attended by 986 persons.
Advanced lectures are also given to teachers in the evenings, and the assistant
medical officers who medically inspect the students in training colleges assist with
the teaching of hygiene which is a compulsory subject.
Special inquiries and reports.
Special inquiries and reports are included under their appropriate headings.
Attention may be drawn to the inquiries into the nutritional state of the children by
Dr. R. H. Simpson (pp. 14 and 90); to the special report on orthoptic treatment
of squint by Dr. Thornett (p. 34); the report by Dr. Slot (p. 76); and the work
of Dr. E. M. McVail on the care of myopic children in secondary schools (p. 89).
Wage-earning employment of school children.
In the year 1933, 2,863 applications (2,828 boys and 35 girls) were dealt with
under the by-laws for medical certificates in connection with the employment of
school children out of school hours.
The nature of the work for which certificates were granted is shown below,
the first numbers are in respect of boys, the figures for girls being given in brackets :
delivery of milk, 285 ; delivery of newspapers, 1,561 (18); carrying or delivery
of goods or parcels, 565 (6) ; in or in connection with a shop, 252 (4); in a coal
yard, 5 ; industrial work at home, 4 (1); house work away from home, 19 (1); as a
messenger, 46 (1); not stated, 3 (1).
In 169 cases the certificates were granted subject to medical treatment being
obtained, and in 60 additional cases other conditions were imposed. Certificates
on medical or other grounds were refused to 88 boys and 3 girls for the following
reasons : rheumatism, 2 ; dental condition, 8 ; defective vision, 7 ; bad heart
condition, 7 ; otorrhcea, 2 ; poor general condition, 13 ; epilepsy, 1 ; non-medical
reasons such as " withdrawn," illegal hours, under or over age, etc., 53. Two
children were rejected under each of two headings.
School children
employed
in enteitainments.
The number ot children examined under the regulations governing the employment
of children in entertainments was 540 (67 boys, 473 girls). Three children,
girls, were rejected on medical grounds—one poor physique, one flat feet, and one
tuberculous glands. One hundred and fourteen children were referred for treatment
in the first instance and given certificates of fitness at a subsequent medical examination.
The conditions requiring treatment were dental decay 72, visual defect 21,
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