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The number of new cases admitted during the year was 312 and the total number
of individual pupils in attendance was 645. One hundred and four children were
discharged as cured and 68, most of whom were improved, left for various reasons.
The remainder were still under treatment at the end of the vear.
Artificial
limbs
Artificial limbs were supplied free and were made and fitted at Queen Mary's
Hospital, Roehampton, to which children are admitted, if necessary, for training in
the use of a limb. During the year five new limbs and six duplicate limbs were
supplied and repairs carried out in 25 cases. In addition, voluntary hospitals supplied
four artificial limbs and repaired nine.
Enuresis
The arrangements made with Westminster Hospital (All Saints genito-urinary
department) for reference on two sessions per week of pupils from Council schools
suffering from enuresis, continued.
An average of eight new patients and 32 old patients are seen each week by
appointment, plus one or two sporadics. At the end of the year there were 311
current cases attending the clinic and the records show that for cases admitted during
the year there was an average increase of 29 out of each possible 100 dry beds. Of
the total of 311 children attending the clinic, 69 failed to respond to treatment.
In April, a clinic for one session a week was established at Clapham Park School
Treatment Centre. There were 121 children on the roll at the end of the year, and
of this number four showed approximately 75 per cent. or more increase of dry nights ;
28 showed approximately 40-75 per cent; 32 showed approximately 15-40 per cent.;
53 showed little or no change, and four became worse during attendance.
Many of the children attending had been previously treated at other hospitals,
by private practitioners, or at child guidance or other clinics. Each child is medically
examined in detail, including urinalysis, and is X-rayed or referred for other specialist
examination and advice for conditions which may have a bearing on the enuresis.
As confidence is established in the parents and the child, improvement takes place, the
periods between attendance are lengthened and the parents are advised to bring the
child back should there be any recurrence of the trouble. Each child is followed up
by the children's care organisation.
Classes for
foot defects
Special classes to correct foot defects before they develop into permanent
disabilities, under the supervision of a part-time specialist in physical medicine, who
made the selection of suitable children, and trained teachers, selected by the Council's
organisers of physical training, were formed in 78 schools during the year. The
children taking part in the exercises were drawn from the age group 9—11 years
and each class comprised 10-14 children.
The Supervising Medical Officer carried out a survey of the work during the year
and the following figures show the results obtained:—
Of a total of 703 pupils in age group 9-10 years, who took part in classes,
76.3 per cent. have had their deformity corrected, 23.2 per cent. have improved
and 0.5 per cent. showed no improvement. In this age group 421, or 59.9 per
cent., of the children taking part in the exercises suffered pain before treatment
and 95 per cent. of these 421 children lost the pain as a result of the treatment.
Of a total of 233 children in the age group 11, who took part in classes, 71.5
per cent. were corrected, 28.1 per cent. improved and one child showed no
improvement. Of the total of 233 children, 135, or 57.9 per cent., had pain
before treatment and of these 135 children, 95 per cent. lost the pain as a result
of the treatment.
Shortage of physical training staff necessitated the suspension of classes, either
temporarily or permanently, at a few schools, and repair work and decorations in
school buildings also prevented some classes functioning to the maximum extent.
It is hoped, however, to extend the scheme to further schools as and when opportunity
occurs.