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20
Treatment recommended at the Hoxton centre during the year was as follows,
the numbers in which the treatment had been obtained by the end of the year being
given in brackets: convalescence, 53 (48, one in hand); holidays at camp schools, 19
(16); extra nourishment: dinners, 9 (8, one refused), milk, 5 (4), cod-liver oil, 3 (3);
holiday meals, 10 (8, two refused); holiday allowance from U.A.B. or P.A.C., 12 (11,
one failed to apply); housing, 6(1, two in hand); ultra-violet rays, 8 (6); remedial
drill, 5 (5); dental treatment, 20 (12); spectacles, 2 (2); aural treatment, 9 (7);
rheumatism scheme, 2 (2); attendance at special ear department, 3 (3); hospital
treatment 11 (10).
Arrangements were made for all children to receive milk during the holidays, but
the attendances were disappointing.
At the Starcross Street centre recommendations were: convalescence, 33 (29,
one refused, one made own arrangement, two failed to join the parties); holidays,
8 (4, three in hand, one refused on account of scabies); extra nourishment: dinners,
5 (5), milk, 6 (6); holiday meals, 13 (12, one ill); dental treatment, 14 (9, two in
hand); aural treatment, 4 (4); rheumatism, 2 (2); orthopaedic treatment, 1 (1);
hospital treatment: for anaemia, 20 (19, one refused), for other ailments, 4 (3, one in
hand); open-air school, 5 (4, one refused); housing, 2 (2 in hand); ultra-violet
rays, 2 (2).
Miss H. G. Nussey, principal organiser, in her report for 1938 remarks:—
Appreciation of the work of the nutrition centres is general. The care committees appreciate
the advice given as to how to deal more effectively with the nutrition cases generally and are
particularly interested in this endeavour to get at the cause of some of the cases of subnutrition
which are obviously not due to poverty. When children, whose parents are in receipt of public
assistance, attend, it is customary for them to get an extra grant in order that the mother may
buy the foodstuffs recommended by the doctor—usually in the form of protein and fats, such as
milk, cheese and butter. Cod-liver oil and malt is being given more generally in the schools also.
The care committees of the five contributory schools have had much to do with the success
of the Oslo dinner experiment (see p. 47). They visited parents and explained the scheme, visited
again those who did not attend the inaugural parents' meeting, and as a result about 60 children
began the meals on 9th May, 1938. Some have enjoyed this type of meal, while others have
found it monotonous, and there has been a good deal of change of personnel in spite of the fact
that children, for the purposes of the experiment, have remained on the feeding list longer than
they would otherwise have done.
There is evidence of great keenness on the part of care committees, teachers and doctors
for the prevention of malnutrition. The publicity given to the subject has undoubtedly aroused
much interest and reports have come to hand that eye diseases due to debility are being cured
more rapidly owing to the increased facilities for (1) cod-liver oil and malt and milk in schools;
(2) extra diet provided by public assistance; (3) use made of "invalid kitchens"; and (4) advice
given at nutrition centres.
Children's
care
committees
Following up
The following up of children found to be in need of treatment or special observation
is carried out by the school care organisation, consisting of upwards of 5,500
voluntary workers aided and supervised by a staff of paid organisers.
The voluntary workers are responsible for acquainting the school doctor with
any particular difficulties with which the family has been contending, such as
unemployment, lack of proper accommodation, or illness, any of which might help
the school doctor in determining the action desirable in any particular case. Such
action may not be confined to medical treatment under the Council's arrangements,
but may require that use be made of other ameliorative channels which are not
always under the Council's supervision.
In this way the Council's school medical service is brought into touch with other
social and medical organisations with undoubted advantages to the children and their
parents.
Re-inspections
The returns of the school doctors who re-inspect children found at the
inspections in elementary schools to be ailing and in need of treatment make it possible
to compile a statistical record of following up. During 1938, 128,067 children were
re-inspected for 171,594 defects, 116,486 of which had been referred for treatment and
55,108 for observation.
At the first re-inspection, which takes place in the next term but one after primary
inspection, 80,051 defects requiring treatment (some children having more than one