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88
GENERAL RESULTS OF INSPECTIONS.
With the exception of heights and weights, these are summarised
in Table E IV.
The defects noted at inspections are tabulated on the same
lines as were adopted in my previous annual report. Though there
are obvious difficulties in expressing the results of inspection in
tabular form, it is worth while considering each of the main
headings in detail.
WANT OF CLEANLINESS.
Condition of the Heads.—Of the 5,923 children inspected, 130
were infected with live vermin at the lime of inspection, and 1,334
other children had "nits," and 89 children had dirty heads apart
from vermin. Though the proportion of children in whom vermin
were detected at medical inspections remains the same as in 1909
there is a considerable rise in the number in whom "nits" were
found, the proportion having risen from 17 to 25 per cent. This is
very unsatisfactory, as the presence of "nits" is a better criterion
of the average condition of the children than the number showing
vermin, as most of the children are more or less specially cleansed
for medical inspection.
During the year there was some delay in getting the revised
regulations into working order, but towards the end of the year we
were more successful in getting convictions in some of the more
flagrant cases. It is a striking fact that the percentage of unclean
children varies greatly with different schools. While the average
for all the girls' schools in the borough is 41 per cent., the proportion
is as high as 85 per cent. in Princess Road, 75 per cent. at
St. Michael's, 71 per cent. in Brighton Road, 70 per cent. at
St. Mary's, and 66 per cent. in Whitehorse Road and Boston Road,
and as low as 5 per cent. in Tenisori's Girls, 9 per cent. in Shirley,
11 percent in Holy Trinity, 12 per cent. in Dering Place, 22 per
cent. in Tavistock Grove, and 23 per cent. in Ecclesbourne Road.
The proportion of children found suffering from vermin of the
body at medical inspections was '7 per cent., which is exactly the
same proportion as in 1909. During the year the Corporation
decided to provide baths at their new disinfecting station. It is
believed that when these are ready there will be less difficulty in
dealing with vermin of the body, as facilities will then be provided
for the simultaneous cleansing of all the members of infected
families.