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Parents in such cases are expected to meet the Guardians at
Romford, a distance of six miles; this has naturally a very deterring
effect on applicants for relief, especially as it is extremely difficult
to persuade them that such assistance should be obtained as the
children may not be obviously ill—the picture of one public authority
urging treatment whilst another provides serious obstacles to their
getting it, is a strange paradox. As the result of a considerable
amount of pressure, and the expenditure of considerable trouble, and
after, in some cases, paying the railway fares of parents to meet the
Guardians, six pairs of spectacles were provided, and medical
appliances and boots in two cases were obtained during the year.
There is a very strong objection on the part of the more respectable
parents to obtain such assistance from this source. I am therefore of
opinion, after a very exhaustive trial, that this method of providing
medical assistance for school children should be abandoned.
The loss in grants through absence from school from ringworm
probably amounted to about £70 a year at the beginning of the year,
besides the serious injury inflicted on the children's education.
Arrangements could be made for the treatment of these cases with
X-rays at a cost of about 5s. each, some of which money could
probably be recovered from the parents. Undoubtedly in the future
such cases will have to be dealt with by means of local arrangements,
and experiments in this direction in other districts are being carefully
watched."
" School Feeding
This is undertaken by a voluntary society twice a week during
certain months of the year; breakfasts are supplied at a centre in
the basement at the North Street School. During the year 19,7"
breakfasts were given at a cost of l 1/16d. each inclusive, the total cost
being £90 8s. 8d. The breakfast consists of ½ lb. bread with jam, and
£ pint of cocoa made with a dried milk and sugar."
1911
" School Medical Inspections.
Number of school medical inspections = 1,732
(Three age groups—5 years, 8 years, 13 years.)
Nutrition 2 = 21%
Nutrition 3 = 1.3%
(Nutrition 1 is not mentioned—presumably normal and not
requiring treatment.)
22% were found to have nasal obstruction.
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