View report page

15
in 1927 the percentage was 1-3, and in 1913 it was over 2 per cent. This defect is
most prevalent amongst entrants and diminishes during school life year by year.
Hardness of hearing was found at routine medical inspections in 276 children, or
only -2 per cent, of those examined. This compares favourably with 383 in 1933,
453 in 1930, and 868 in 1927, and again equals the best result yet obtained.
Mention is made in another part of this report (page 18) of the extended use of
the audiometer in elementary schools, 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.
Many of these cases are missed by the ordinary method of medical inspection, in
which the test is the forced whisper at 20 feet.
Heart defect (functional or organic) was reported in 1,990 children in the
prescribed groups or 1 • 5 per cent., compared with 1 • 7 in 1935, 1 • 9 in 1934 and 2 per
cent, in 1930. As usual, older girls presented a percentage (1-7) in excess of older
boys (1-3).
Heart
defect.
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.
The continuous reduction in the percentage of children found with heart disease
of late years corresponds with the increase in preventive measures described in the
account of the rheumatism scheme (p. 31).
Anaemia was recorded in 837 cases, or • 6 per cent., compared with • 7 in 1935,
1-0 in 1934, 1 1 in the years 1931 and 1932, and 1-2 per cent, in 1930. In this
respect also the children's health shows steady improvement.
Ansamia.
Lung defects were noted in 2,875 children in the prescribed age groups (2-1 per
cent., the same percentage as last year).
Lung defects.
The bulk of the cases is provided by the entrants (3-7 per cent, boys and 3-3
per cent, girls). This is due largely to bronchial catarrh, which is especially
prevalent amongst entrant infants.
There were 66 children in the three age groups reported to have symptoms
indicative of pulmonary tuberculosis, but only 20 of these were not already under
treatment. In addition, 30 children were found with other forms of tuberculosis.
The percentage of children with tuberculosis in any form found at routine inspections
is -76 per thousand. For many years the amount of tuberculosis amongst school
children has been very small.
Tuberculosis.
Epilepsy was noted in 30 cases, compared with 28 in 1935, 52 in 1932, 65 in
1931, and 73 in 1929 ; chorea in 101 cases, compared with 104 in 1935. 158 in 1932,
and 170 in 1931 ; paralysis in 41 children, compared with 45 in 1935, 55 in 1934,
63 in 1932, and 81 in 1931.
Nervous
diseases.
Symptoms of rickets or the effects of early rickets were noted in 653 children
in the prescribed groups. This is -5 per cent., compared with -4 in 1935, -5 in 1934,
•3 in 1932, and -4 per cent, in 1931 and 1930. Infant boys had an incidence of 1-1
per cent., compared with 1-0 in 1935 and 1934, •! in 1933, and -9 per cent, in 1932,
and infant girls -5 per cent., as last year, compared with -3 in 1933, and -4 per cent,
in 1932. The stigmata of early rickets tend to disappear as growth proceeds. It
appears therefore that there has been some increase in rickets, which is a nutritional
disease, amongst children below school age, affecting those entering school in the
years 1934 to 1936.
Rickets.
Amongst deformities, spinal curvature accounted, in the prescribed age groups,
for 445 cases (-3 per cent.), compared with -4 per cent, last year. Of these 181
(•8 per cent, of those examined) were among the 11-year-old girls, while the 11-yearold
boys showed -3 per cent. Other deformities, mainly flat foot, were present
in 1,276 children (-9 per cent., compared with 1-0 in 1935 and 1934).
Deformities.
During 1936 the school medical staff were completing the change-over from
inspection at 8 years to inspection at 7 years.
The 8-year
group.