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80
Annual Report of the School
Medical Officer,
DENNIS H. GEFFEN,
M.D., B.S., D.P.H., M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P.
For the Year ending 31st December, 1935.
To the Chairman and Members of the
Enfield Education Committee.
Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I beg to place before you my ninth annual report on the health
of the school children of Enfield.
On reading the subsequent pages of this report I feel certain
you will be satisfied with the scope of the work that is being carried
out, and amazed at the various types of disease which have passed
through the hands of the department, and the help that it has been
possible to provide. You will note that in one instance a child has
been provided with an artificial eye, whilst one child received
insulin for the treatment of diabetes. Three cases of hemiplegia
were seen, one case of birth palsy, one case of cerebral diplegia, and
one case of congenital absence of fingers. The duties of the School
Medical Officer are multifarious; he must be prepared to diagnose
the most obstruse form of disease and advise as to the best means of
obtaining treatment.
It will be noted that the school population and average attendance
have increased by about 1,000 in the last five years. In
addition, the members of the Committee will realise that the department
has undertaken the examination and treatment of about
1,000 secondary school children, whilst a large amount of work is
now involved in connection with the provision of milk for school
children and the examination of children who are being sent to
camp. On the medical side the increase of work has been met
by the appointment of Dr. Thomas, who, as Assistant School
Medical Officer and Assistant Medical Officer of Health, devotes
half his time to school medical work. I will deal with the adequacy
of our dental staff later. I am satisfied, however, that the general
condition of the children of Enfield is being well maintained, and I