View report page

93
(j) Heart Disease and Rheumatism. During the year there
were found in the course of routine and special inspections 17
children suffering from organic and 61 from functional disease
of the heart.
All children who are suffering from organic disease of the
heart or who have a history of having suffered from rheumatism,
which is the main cause of heart disease, are kept under particular
supervision, being examined at frequent intervals, the length of
which depending on their condition. Special records are kept of
their condition and progress and special reports are made by the
Sanitary Inspectors on their home conditions. Steps are taken
to improve the home conditions if such are required, and, if removal
to a Council house is called for, a special recommendation is made
to the Housing Committee. The parents and teachers are given
advice regarding the care of the children, particularly in respect
to games and physical exercises and the avoidance of over-exertion.
Those who require treatment in a general hospital during an acute
attack of rheumatism are sent there and those, for whom residence
for some months in a hospital school for heart cases is desirable,
are sent there at the cost of the Education Committee.
(k) Defective Speech—In the schools there are 37 children
suffering from defective speech. Most of them are stammerers
and range from 5 to 14 years of age, 30 being boys and 7 girls.
Stammering occurs in children of a nervous tendency and
though it does not affect the child physically it may have a serious
psychological effect. Most important of all it is liable to militate
against the sufferer's employment. At the same time the condition
is very amenable to treatment, especially if treated early and
thoroughly. In this treatment, or instruction, which must be
given by a person with special experience, the interest and assistance
of the child, the teacher and parents are essential. Given favourable
conditions of instruction and supervision it is estimated that 30
per cent. are cured by a course of instruction of twelve weeks
whilst the remainder are greatly improved.
The Education Committee recognizing the importance of
assisting these children to get rid of their defect have decided to
form a class for stammering children at the Mattock Lane Health