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57
Findings of School Medical Inspection.
Review of the Facts Disclosed.
In Table II are to be found the defects noted on inspection
at the schools during routine medical examination and at the
School Clinic. Among 1,814 routine children examined there were
827 defects requiring treatment and 176 requiring to be kept under
observation without treatment; and among 1,234 children specially
examined there were found 1,046 defects requiring treatment
and 73 requiring to be kept under observation. Hence, out of
a total of 4,006 children there were altogether 1,873 defects requiring
treatment and 149 requiring observation. Of the 1,814 children
examined at the routine inspections 368, or 20.2 percent., were
found to require treatment for defective conditions other than
uncleanliness and dental disease.
(a) Uncleanliness.—As in previous years the heads of all
the girls attending elementary schools were inspected after the
usual school holidays, three times a year, to ascertain their condition
as regards cleanliness. Of 9.826 children examined, 209, or 2.1 percent.,
were excluded on account of verminous condition. There
were also 17 other children who were excluded for verminous
condition found at the routine medical inspection held in the schools,
and 55 found at the School Clinic on being referred for examination
by the head-teachers.
During the year seven summonses were issued under the
School Attendance Byelaws when children so excluded were not
cleansed within fourteen days. A fine of 20s. was imposed by the
Magistrates in one case, 10s. in another and 5s. in four cases, and
one case was dismissed. The last case had been cleansed since the
issue of the summons
The following table shows the continued improvement in the
cleanliness of the children in the last three years, no doubt as a
result of the constant vigilance exercised by the School Nurses;—