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and "leavers" (children just completing their school course).
In future, a third group must also be medically inspected
("intermediates") (children half-way through the course)
about the age of 8½. So far as Finchley is concerned, this
will make no difference, as the "intermediates" have been
examined during the past 2 years. It should be pointed out
in passing that a considerable number of children who have
been examined as "entrants" in Finchley have already been
previously examined elsewhere, though it has been impossible
to obtain their medical inspection records. The districts from
which they came have been asked to supply these records,
but have either been unable to comply, or have stated that
it has been impossible to attend to such requirements owing
to the large amount of clerical work entailed. Another point
worthy of comment is the great number of abbreviation signs
used on the medical inspection records of various districts. To
such an extent is this carried, that it is often quite impossible
to understand their meaning. It is to be hoped that some
means may be devised whereby a universal system of making
and keeping records may be put into operation.
Special Records for Children with Defects.
During the year your Secretary and Medical Officer have
devised a scheme for keeping a more complete and more efficient
record of children with defects. The basis of the scheme
is the use of coloured cards, one colour for eye cases, another
for ears and throat, another for chest diseases, another for
ringworm, another for uncle.anlinees, etc. The work certainly
involved duplication and extra clerical work, but the extra
time and labour have been more than repaid by the ease with
which children suffering from a particular defect can be kept
under constant observation until the defect is remedied.
Special Enquiries and Special Examinations.
Apart from the routine Medical Inspection, a large
amount of time has been spent in making special enquiries
into, and additional examination of, cases in which the time
given at an ordinary examination was insufficient. A fuller
description of this work appears in the body of the report.