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18
These figures will vary, up and down, from year to year, and
even though they increase, I can assure you there is a progressive
movement in the right 'direction. This movement will not be shown
actually by figures because as year succeeds year we hope to be able
to maintain a much higher standard.
The Orthopaedic Clinic on the Maternity and Child Welfareside
is now working so well that gross cases of crippling defects
amongst your school children are now quite incidental.
There is no way in which your Council has spent more wisely
than in looking after the very young children whose deformities
would mean serious disablement not only throughout the whole of
school life but throughout the whole of life itself.
I must, however, point out that there are quite minor physical
disabilities which provoke a loss of efficiency apparently out of
proportion to the disability, e.g., minor deformities of the spine
due to the children adopting negligent attitudes when seated at
desks and when standing.
These not only throw an undue strain on the whole of the
body skeleton, but actually alter the normal relationship of the
heart and other organs, with great detriment to the well-being and
intelligence of the children.
It is in this connection I would stress the importance of the
closest co-operation between the teachers and the school medical
inspectors. It is only when teachers have an opportunity of having
these minor disabilities pointed out to them while the children are
being actually examined that their importance can be rightly
appreciated.
(6) INFECTIOUS DISEASE.
The spread of infectious disease is a matter primarily associated
with the home life of the children.
Last year I pointed out the very considerable difficulties which
present themselves to your teaching staff in helping to prevent
the spread of infection and I expressed my appreciation of the
very real help we had received from them notwithstanding these
difficulties.