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151
Diseases of the Skin.
In 13 instances children were found to be suffering from
an affection of the skin. In one case only was a child found
to be suffering from Scabies during the course of inspection.
One other case was brought to my notice during the year.
The Finchley Schools, fortunately, appear to be very free
from this complaint.
2 cases of Ringworm were met with in the course of inspection
quite unsuspected. In 19 other instances, however,
children suffering from this complaint were discovered by the
Teachers or School Nurse.
7 cases of Impetigo were met with in the Infants (3 boys
and 1 girl). In the intermediate group 1 boy and 1 girl, and
one case of a boy in the upper school.
2 cases of Icthyosis—1 girl in the infants and 1 boy in
the intermediate classes, and one case of Psoriasis in a boy of
the same group.
As will be seen below, cases of Ringworm are thoroughly
dealt with, and in some other instances diseases of the skin
have been treated by the school authorities. It is hoped that
further treatment will be available for these conditions before
long.
Defective Speech.
Of the 1,641 children examined, 16 had marked defects
of speech. In 4 instances a pronounced lisp was present—1 in
the infant boys and 2 in the upper boys, and 1 in the upper
girls.
Marked defect of articulation was present in 6 cases—3
in the boys and 1 in the girls' infants' schools. 1 boy and 1
girl were similarly affected in the intermediate groups.
Stammering more or lees severe was present in 6 instances
—4 boys and 2 girls.
The aetiology of stammering appears not to be fully
understood, although it is no doubt due to the want of harmonic
working of the mechanism of speech. No special treatment
is available for these children at the present time.