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Head Teachers were informed, where it was found advisable
that the child should sit either in the front row or should abstain
from swimming, or both. Head Teachers are particularly requested
to see that these recommendations follow the children throughout
the whole of their school life.
Audiometry Report.
Number of schools visited 35
Number of children examined 9,962
Number of children with hearing loss 215
Number of pure tone tests 250
Number referred to E.N.T. Specialist 185
8,864 children's feet have been inspected this year in all the
maintained schools by a specially trained nurse, of which 431 were
referred to the Foot Clinics. Children from the Welfare Centres who
are under school age were also seen by the Assistant Medical Officer
in charge of Foot Health.
Foot defects found up to the age of 12 years are usually
correctable, but it is disturbing to find the number of incorrectable
foot defects, in particular Hallux Valgus (bending outwards of the
big toe) among girls, which appears at, or just after, this age and
which becomes progressively worse, so that even before they leave
school the children suffer from foot pain. This defect is found in
association with either good shoes worn for too long a period, i.e.
they become too short, or with the popular " Casual " type, which
in order to stay on the foot has to be tight, narrow and short.
In the Ealing Shoe Scheme of 1949—1951, it was found that
children needed to have their shQes checked for size every 3-4
months ; some shoes could be worn for 6 months but rarely any
longer. This is always emphasised at the foot clinics. Parents of
children, especially girls, in the Senior Modern Schools say they
experience great difficulty in obtaining a good enough selection in
large enough sizes. Size 7 in girls is fast becoming an average size
in the rising generation. Of twelve different shoe shops recently
visited in Ealing, only six had girls shoes in stock in this or larger
sizes and these were shops selling the better, and of course dearer,
type of shoe. The demand for these shoes suitable for a growing
foot is poor anyway, as unfortunately these children wish to wear
a more " fashionable " shape and override their parents wishes in
the selection of shoes. Allowing growing children to wear unsuitably
shaped shoes is to be greatly deplored.
The incidence of ringworm and plantar warts has decreased.
Barefoot dancing was reintroduced experimentally in 3 Senior
Modern -Schools a year ago and girls in these schools and in 3 Senior
FOOT HEALTH