View report page

254
lympoid tissue to contract as age advances. The preponderance
of these defects in the entrant group is a commentary on the
present insufficient medical supervision of the pre-school child.
The majority of these cases could be prevented if taken in hand
earlier and proper management in dietary habits and breathing
inculcated.

#Does not include mouth breathers, but includes other defects of nose and throat.
Defective Hearing,
The commonest causes of deafness in children are chronic
inflammation of the middle ear and adenoids.
Parents are reminded that in cases of discharge from the ears,
permanent damage may be inflicted on the delicate ear mechanism
by syringing. This treatment, unless carefully and skilfully done,
may force infection into the innermost parts of the ear, and set
up an inflammation which may lead to serious consequences.
A report of the work of the Ionization Clinic is given on
page 60.
The routine medical inspection figures showed that 0.3 per
cent, entrants, 1.8 per cent, intermediates, and 1.7 per cent, leavers
had defective hearing.
Speech Defects.
The findings show that 0.2 per cent, entrants and 0.4 per cent,
intermediates showed speech defects. These figures are lower
than usually found. There are no special classes for stammerers
yet established under the Croydon Educational Scheme.