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15
Mention is made in another part of this report (page 29) of the use of the audiometer,
which brings to light many minor degrees of hardness of hearing and cases of
unilateral deafness, which, while not interfering with education, are sometimes the
indication for active preventive treatment.
Heart defect (functional or organic) was reported in 2,570 children or 1.9 per
cent., the same percentage as in 1933 and 1932, compared with 1.8 per cent, in 1931,
and 2 per cent. in 1930. As usual, older girls presented a percentage (2.2) in excess
of older boys (1.7).
Heart and
anæmia.
In studies of rheumatism in the metropolis it is found that girls suffer to a greater
extent than boys in the proportion of about 3 to 2. It is reasonable to deduce that
the figures for heart defect reflect this excessive incidence of rheumatism in the
female sex.
Anaemia was found in 1,336 cases, or 1.0 per cent., compared with .9 per cent.
in 1933, an improvement upon the years 1931 and 1932, when the percentage was
1.1 and upon 1930, with 1.2 per cent.
Lung defects were noted in 3,013 children (2.2 per cent.), compared with 2.0
per cent. last year. The increase of .2 per cent. is due to the preponderence of entrant
infants in the numbers examined this year in consequence of the small numbers of
7-year-old children examined, and is not a true increase. There is always amongst
the entrant infants a certain amount of bronchitis found to be associated with errors
in feeding. The 7-year-old children were in fact better than the 8-year-old children
in 1933.
Lung defects.
The bulk of the cases are provided by the entrants (3.9 per cent. boys and
3.4 per cent. girls). These cases are largely bronchial catarrh, which is especially
prevalent amongst entrant infants who present rickety manifestations, and the preponderance
of incidence upon infant bovs compared with girls holds as in rickets.
There were 60 children in the three age groups reported to have symptoms
indicative of pulmonary tuberculosis, but only 6 of these were not already under
treatment. In addition, 24 children had other forms of tuberculosis. The incidence
of tuberculosis in any form found at routine inspections is .6 per thousand. For
many years the amount of tuberculosis amongst school children has been very small.
Tuberculosis,
Epilepsy was noted in 36 cases, compared with 61 in 1933, 52 in 1932, 65 in 1931,
60 in 1930 and 73 in 1929; chorea in 95 cases, compared with 132 in 1933, 158 in
1932, 170 in 1931, 186 in 1930 and 178 in 1929; paralysis in 55 children, compared
with 56 in 1933, 63 in 1932, 81 in 1931, 76 in 1930 and 122 in 1929.
Nervous
diseases.
Symptoms of rickets or the effects of early rickets were noted in 683 children.
This is .5 per cent., compared with .3 per cent. in 1932, and .4 per cent. in 1931 and
1930. Infant boys had an incidence of 1.0 per cent., compared with .7 per cent. in
1933, .9 per cent. in 1932, and infant girls .5 per cent., compared with .3 per cent. in
1933, ana .4 per cent. in 1932. The stigmata of early rickets tend to disappear as
growth proceeds. It appears therefore that there has been an increase in rickets,
which is a nutritional disease, amongst children below school age.
Rickets.
Spinal curvature accounted for 527 cases (-4 per cent.), the same proportion
as last year. Of these 222 (-8 per cent, of those examined) were among the 11-yearold
girls, while the 11-year-old boys showed -5 per cent. Other deformities, mainly
flat foot were present in 1,449 children (1-0 per cent.). This is an increase of • 1 per
cent, on 1933.
Deformities.
For the reason mentioned earlier it was decided that the 8-year-old group should,
during 1934, be dealt with by means of a " preliminary survey " in which the school
doctors would rapidly see all the children individually without undressing them,
would note the obvious defects and refer for detailed examination in the presence of
their parents any children who appeared during the preliminary survey to need this
procedure. There were 47,001 children in the group (23,234 boys and 23,767 girls).
Of these 3,739 (1,781 boys and 1,958 girls) or 7-95 per cent, were referred for detailed
examination.
The 8-year
group.