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244
FINDINGS AT ROUTINE MEDICAL INSPECTIONS
Uncleanliness.
Frequent special inspections are made by the school nurses
in the schools.
For these unclean liness surveys the health visitors made 473
visits to schools. At the primary inspections they found vermin
in 229, and nits alone in 2,187 children. On these inspections, 3.6
per cent. of the children showed evidence of infestation as against
4.0 in 1932 and 4.3 in 1931. In connection with these findings
it must be stated that as children in unsatisfactory families are
subject to repeated examinations, they naturally raise the total
percentage found unclean. The figures are an improvement
upon the 1932 findings.
Clothing and Footgear.
At routine medical inspections 98.9 per cent. of the boys and
99.1% girls were clothed and shod properly. Close scrutiny has
been exerted by the medical inspectors and the findings are satisfactory.
The findings are the same as for 1932.
Nutrition.
In the entrants 13.8 per cent. of the boys and 9.5 per cent.
of the girls were below normal nutrition for the area. In the
intermediate group 15.5 per cent. of the boys and 18.3 per cent. of
the girls were under average; in the leavers group 13.0 per cent.
boys and 16.4 per cent. girls, giving in the whole school groups
examined 14.6 per cent. boys and 15.3 girls.
The figures are higher than in 1932. These figures, especially
those relating to the entrant group, which show the highest
increase in subnormal nutrition, appear to point to the effects of
prolonged unemployment among the parents. These findings
should be taken in conjunction with the more elaborate analysis
contained in Table III.
The subject of child nutrition is a complex one and is
dependent on many and diverse factors. Efficient mother-care is
the dominant influence. This means a sensible realisation of the
child as a growing, active being, who, although needing protection,
will not benefit by coddling, and whose thoughts should
be directed towards health and not ill-health.