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70
Defects.
During the year, 3,124 pupils (20.9 per cent.) were referred for treatment for
various defects. Heart defect was noted in 1.6 per cent. boys and 3.3 per cent.
girls; defects of nose and throat in 1.7 per cent. boys and 3.8 per cent. girls; ear
disease in .4 per cent. boys and .5 per cent. girls.; anaemia and debility in 1.5 per
cent. boys and 1.6 per cent. girls.
In the secondary schools there are more cases than in the elementary schools
of postural defects, especially in girls, such as curvature of the spine. Such postural
defect of the spine was noted in 0.5 per cent. of boys at 12 and 1.2 per cent. at 15,
but in girls the amount of this defect was much greater, viz., 8.2 per cent. at 12 and
8.1 at 15.
The increase, between ages 12 and 15 in institutions of higher education, of
defect of vision and dental caries is disturbing.
Re-
inspection
The re-inspection of 3,416 pupils in higher education institutions was carried out;
1,469 defects had been satisfactorily treated, 475 were under treatment, 769 had
had treatment but needed further treatment, and in 710 cases no treatment had been
obtained.
The following-up of defects discovered at secondary schools is left to the head
masters and mistresses. When the parent is not present, a letter recommending
treatment is sent, generally in the name of the head master or mistress.
Scholarship children attending secondary and trade schools are given the same
facilities for medical treatment under the Council's arrangements as children in
elementary schools, provided that they are entitled to either partial or full remission
of educational fees.
For fee-paying pupils at secondary schools who have been inspected by the
Council's medical officers or doctors appointed by the governors, arrangements are
made when necessary for medical treatment to be received under the Council's
scheme provided that (i) the parents cannot afford to make private arrangements
and (ii) payment is made therefor.
Training
colleges.
Of the 993 students examined in training colleges, six were found to be sufferng
from extensive dental caries; 76.6 per cent. of the men and 82.4 of the women
passed the vision test, but 31.1 per cent. of the men and 32.2 per cent. of the
women were wearing glasses.
Residential schools and children's homes
The eleven children's homes which formerly belonged to the metropolitan
boards of guardians, and which are still used for this purpose by the Council, viz.,
Anerley, Ashford, Banstead, Grays, Hornchurch, Hutton, Lamorbey, Leytonstone,
Norwood, Ongar and Shirley, have been visited regularly by Dr. Mabel Russell.
Rules regarding the storage of poisons in educational institutions have been adopted
by the Education Committee, and regular inspection of the arrangements has been
provided for.
An outbreak of Vincent's infection was discovered at the Leytonstone home,
and 35 children were found to have severe stomatitis. Energetic measures, including
daily dental treatment, were undertaken, and after about six weeks the cases were
finally cleared up. Later four cases of Vincent's angina occurred at Hutton homes.
One of these was a transfer from Leytonstone, and the other three were contacts
of t.his child.
Enuresis.
The special enuresis unit at Anerley, which had been formed for the special
inquiry into the condition conducted by Dr. W. A. Scott, was closed during the
autumn. Dr. Scott in a final report summed up the results of the inquiry as
follows:—
The Anerley unit has shown that in the treatment of established enuretics—
(i) They are best treated in their own schools.
(ii) Association in a unit is undesirable.
(iii) Medical supervision of the individual cases is not essential.
(iv) Drugs are only necessary in a small number of cases that do not
respond to other methods of treatment.