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requiring observation or treatment, but when necessary a complete
re-examination is made. If treatment has been advised but
not obtained, a second notice is sent, and an attempt is made to
get a personal interview with the parents. The nurse calls at the
house, if she has not already been, or the teacher invites the
parents to interview the Medical Officers at the offices. It is
unfortunate that so small a proportion of parents attend at medical
inspection, because a little explanation then is more effectual and
less likely to cause annoyance than the receipt of an official notice
advising treatment. Moreover, it is often possible to give hints
on health and minor points which do not call for an official notice.
The percentage of parents present during the inspection of infants
is 19, during the inspection of seniors .6. The Priory School shows
the highest percentage among the infant departments. If treatment
is still not obtained, and the child is being injured by failure
to provide it, the next step is for the secretary to send a letter,
pointing out the parents' liabilities under the Children's Act, and
if this is neglected, the final step is prosecution. This is very
rarely needed. Particulars of such cases are given later.
Sources of cases referred to Defect Cards:—
Total.
489
Medical
Inspection.
316
Outside
districts.
24
Public
Health
Dept.
16
Attendance
Officer.
17
Secretary.
6
Head
Teachers.
110
The heading "outside districts " requires explanation. When
a child enters the Acton Schools from another district, a card is
sent asking for its medical inspection schedule. If any condition
requiring treatment is noted on it, the particulars are transferred
at once to a defect card, so that the child comes automatically under
review at the Medical Officer's next visit to the school. In most
cases the parents have been glad to avail themselves of the treatment
offered, but in some instances the working of the system
has Caused dismay. One family crossed the border into Acton,
thinking to escape the necessity of obtaining treatment, and
expecting a long time of peace before the next routine inspection
again revealed the defect. When within the first term a notice
arrived from the Acton Authorities, their disappointment was deep.
In the same way, when another district notifies us that one of