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Market, each with 120 children) does she remain for the whole of the morning. General supervision
of the children is mainly lay and the staff is limited. Careful graduation of area of exposure
and time of exposure of individual children to sunlight is generally impracticable.
Owing to the action of London smoke in diminishing the ultra-violet rays and to the fact
that children are not outside for long periods in great heat, few schools have noted ill effects
from exposure even where school knickers alone have been worn. The opinion of the superintendents
of the oldest schools is, however, that children are more comfortable and feel the heat
less when a cotton overall and short knickers are worn, to which is added a woollen vest or jersey
when the temperature falls. At the Rachel McMillan nursery school it was found that the
wearing of sun suits exposing most of the trunk as well as the limbs caused lassitude and
diarrhoea, particularly amongst the most delicate, and thin cotton overalls and knickers have
been substituted both there and at the Country House at Wrotham. At Notting-hill and Somers
Town similar clothing is worn in hot weather. At the Rommany nursery school, where the
school overall of thin cotton is worn with knickers or loose trousers, the superintendent has
found that the children are cooler and happier when clothed in that manner than in sun-suits
with more complete exposure. At some of the newer schools, including North Kensington and
Dalgarno Gardens, similar garments are worn. Circumstances vary, however, at different schools.
Some, for instance, North Islington, the women's university settlement and St. Leonard's
nursery schools, have the advantage of playgrounds with trees, in the shade of which the most
sketchy of sun-suits may safely be worn on hot days. Other playgrounds are without such
advantages and children, when outside, are exposed to the full glare and heat of the sun.
Speaking generally, it is advised that nursery school children should wear in hot weather
loose overalls or vests, covering the trunk, and short knickers.
Cotton hats protecting the head and the back of the neck should always be worn in strong
sunshine.
It is necessary that children should put on woollen vests or jerseys as well as the cotton
garments if the temperature falls.
Medical inspection and treatment—Bay continuation schools, evening institutes and
junior instruction centres
With a view to closing to some extent the "gap" which exists between the
medical care of children in school and the operation of the health service of the
National Health Insurance scheme, the Council authorised in 1934 as an experiment
the voluntary medical inspection of pupils attending day continuation schools and
certain selected evening institutes.
In addition, in order that juveniles attending junior instruction centres could,
when so certified, be able to obtain milk as medical treatment, a weekly visit of one
of the Council's medical officers to these centres was made. These arrangements
have been continued in 1936.
In 1935 and 1936, at the eleven day continuation schools 1,326 pupils submitted
themselves to medical inspection. Thirty pupils were found subnormal in nutrition,
in none were pediculi found, 1,003 had sound teeth, 989 had normal vision (219 were
wearing glasses), and 223 various defects including nose and throat ailments, circulatory
troubles, skin diseases and postural deformities were found; 391 in all were
advised to obtain treatment. At four selected evening institutes 413 pupils desired
medical inspection. Of these, 38 were subnormal in nutrition, in 6 pediculi were
present, 279 had sound teeth, 244 passed the test for normal vision (28 were wearing
spectacles), and 232 various ailments were found to be needing observation or
treatment, 173 in all were referred for treatment.
At junior instruction centres during 1936, 895 juveniles were interviewed by
the doctors, 211 were recommended for milk on physical grounds, and a complete
medical overhaul was made in 160 cases. Of this number, 40 were subnormal in
nutrition, none was verminous, 71 had carious teeth, 75 failed to pass the vision test
(38 were wearing glasses), and 107 other defects were discovered.
Medical treatment at the school treatment centres was available for juveniles
under 16 years or those who, being over 16 years of age, were not entitled to medical
benefit under the National Health Insurance scheme.
Medical inspection at secondary and trade schools.
In the maintained secondary and trade schools medical inspection has been
carried out by the school medical stafE over a very long period of years.