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217
The figures again show that the period of most rapid growth
in stature is earlier in boys than in girls, the latter grow most
rapidly and put on most weight during the last years of school
life; boys, on the contrary, appear to grow most rapidly between
8 and 12 years of age.
During the period of growth from 5 years to 8 years the boys
gained on the average 11.2 lbs. in weight and 5.3 inches in height.
The girls gained 10.1 lbs. in weight and 6.1 inches in height.
Prom 8 years to 12 years the corresponding gains are 23.0 lbs.
gain in weight for boys and 26.2 lbs. for girls; 8.2 inches gain in
height for boys and 7.7 inches for girls.
During the period of growth from 5 years until 13 years the
boys increased by 14.6 inches in height and 39.9 lbs. in weight;
the girls increased 15.7 inches in height and 42.9 lbs. in weight.
These findings are very similar to last year's figures, except
that the total weight increase in both sexes is less, to the extent of
2.1 lbs. in boys and 1.1 lbs. in girls.
Heart and Circulatory System.
The following table summarises the findings. The percentage
of organic defects is rather higher than for the whole of England
and Wales. As might be expected the figure rises steadily during
school life and this emphasises the importance of strict ascertainment,
supervision and facilities for the necessary treatment of
rheumatism. The etiology of acute rheumatism is not yet known,
but there is no doubt about the lasting damage it does to cardiac
tissue, more especially if it is not discovered early and adequately
treated. The Rheumatism Clinic is doing valuable work in this
direction. The figures are rather lower for 1930 than for 1929:—