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101
minor infections, we can only continue to advise general measures
of the avoidance of overcrowding of classrooms, a high standard
of domestic cleanliness in school buildings, and heating and
ventilation which permit adequate air changes even in the winter
months.
With regard to particular infectious diseases, scarlet fever
reappeared in the school which gave difficulties in 1953, but to
a much lesser degree. A teacher in a private school was found
suffering from infectious pulmonary tuberculosis and the usual
steps were taken to examine all other members of staff and child
contacts. In contrast with previous investigations, in Corporation
maintained schools, secondary cases were found. When the
Corporation adopted the recommendations of the Joint Tuberculosis
Council, I wrote to all private schools in the Borough,
suggesting that they might wish to adopt these recommendations
for their own staff. Obviously, however, there are difficulties
in their arranging for X-ray examinations of impending applicants,
if a Mass X-ray Unit does not happen to be operating at
the time in some part of the Borough. The Corporation have therefore,
resolved that the Health Department shall affordto private
schools facilities for X-raying the chests of new entrants
before they actually take up their duties.
As regards handicapped children, endeavour was made to diagnose
deafness or partial deafness as early as possible in infant
life. The School Nurses, who are also Health Visitors, were
informed of the possibility and need to identify children with
hearing defects before the age of one year, as it is believed that
treatment at this stage may enable the child to learn to speak in
the normal manner. An additional whole-time Speech Therapist was
appointed during the year under review, but unfortunately,resigned
owing to ill health within three months. Her appointment demonstrated
the inadequacy of the premises at present available for this
service and plans for a proper treatment centre were approved to
be provided early in 1955. Arrangements were made for an Orthopaedic
Surgeon and a Specialist in Physical Medicine, who advise
the Special School for Spastics, to attend once a term at the
Corporation's Day School for Handicapped Children. At this School,
a new physiotherapy room and rearranged medical treatment rooms
were provided during the year under review.
Provision for the education of all types of handicapped
children was adequate, with the exception of places in residential
schools for educationally subnormal children. Steps were