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35
experienced observers are sometimes as well worthy of note as
statistics prepared on a scientific basis. The impression I get from
our dentists is that they are of the opinion that the dental condition
of the children of Enfield is considerably better than in pre-war years,
and especially so in the case of entrants who have lived the major
part of their lives on the diet imposed upon them by the war. They
attribute this to the absence of sweets, to a more regular diet, and
the ingestion of fresh vegetables.
There is one school in Enfield where the children come from
superior homes in a healthy part of the district. They are well
looked after, beautifully clothed, well-behaved, and, in my opinion,
wisely fed. It is interesting to note that at this school the percentage
of children who were dentally fit on entering school in 1942 was
32 per cent. I quote this as an example of what can be achieved
in a community of children who are well-housed, whose parents are
educated in the care of children, and who have the facilities to
provide their children with the elementary requisites of life in
their own good homes.
During the course of the year I have given specialised attention
to children suffering from defects likely to be of a lasting nature,
and have held clinics regularly in my office where I have examined
such children and consulted with their parents.
A satisfactory School Medical Service must first of all have a
routine that will deal with the care of normal children, supervise
their welfare, and secure the treatment of defects which occur in
large numbers. I think that Enfield is reasonably provided for
in this respect. There are other cases which do not fall into this
category ; individual cases requiring very careful consideration and
special methods if the children concerned are not to suffer permanently.
Obviously, under this heading comes that number of children
which is dealt with by the Director of Education and his special
department ; children whose parents are not capable of giving them
the care and protection that they need ; and children who have
appeared before the Court for various offences.
In addition to these there are children suffering from medical
defects, and these are the ones to whom I would refer.
There are children whose mental capacity is such that they
cannot learn with other children. During the year no less than
fifty-four such cases were dealt with ; ten were educable in an ordinary
school, eighteen needed education in a special school, two were
incapable of further instruction in a special school, eleven were
incapable of educational instruction in any form, and thirteen were
not scheduled. This does not mean that these thirteen children will