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On 18 September, 1959 cases of sore throat, vomiting and diarrhoea were reported,
together with a complaint of nuisance from dust caused by demolition and rebuilding work
in progress at the school. Children, staff and parents had complained of dust affecting their
throats and making them feel sick. The number of cases was increasing and children on
the ground floor, where the concentration of dust was most severe, were the greatest
sufferers. Of some 60 children who had been affected only two had come from classrooms
on the first floor.
The following remedial measures were immediately taken:
(a) damping down by hose spraying;
(b) removal of rubbish from the site;
(c) wherever possible screens used to stop dust falling;
(d) all windows kept closed;
(e) children's bottles of milk and drinking straws specially covered;
(/) special arrangements to protect meals and utensils in the school meals kitchen.
By 28 September the headmaster reported that the number of illnesses probably
connected with dust was now very few and continuing to fall daily, and that the recommended
precautions were being maintained. No further action was subsequently found to
be necessary.
School treatment centres
At the end of the year there were 111 school treatment centres, of which 8 were run by
voluntary committees.
Treatment of enuresis: electric alarm bell apparatus—During recent years increasing
publicity has been given to electric alarm bell apparatus in the treatment of enuresis. The
devices consist simply of an electric bell with a battery and two pads, and there are several
makes on the market. Whilst the idea is by no means new, in earlier years it was subject to
severe criticism on psychiatric grounds. Today the pendulum has swung the other way
and such devices are being recommended by some psychiatrists. Divisional medical officers
were informed, in 1959, that there was no objection to the issue of such apparatus from
special investigation clinics, if the clinician responsible wished to try it for a particular
patient.
Treatment statistics—The number of sessions, new cases and total attendances at school
children's clinics during 1959 (including sessions held in hospital premises) were as
follows ;
Type of clinic Sessions New cases Attendances
Minor ailments (nurse) 23,435 75,017 513,333
Minor ailments (doctor) 2,610 35,123
Special investigation 2,124 1,931 13,935
Dental 30,817 82,448 267,781
Vision 4,959 31,841 81,324
Orthoptic 1,927 1,143 7,651
Ear, nose and throat 745 3,507 8,800
Audiology 325 1,279 3,153
Rheumatism (supervisory) 350 176 2,142
Enuresis 321 284 1,929
101
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