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132
The arrangement for the annual medical inspection of
statutory cases continued, and treatment where necessary was
arranged for at the Health Centre, Burnt Oak.
THE DIFFICULT CHILD.
The child showing well marked abnormalities of conduct
presents a problem of great complexity but one, which, nevertheless,
should be met as it is important that the underlying
causes should be traced and if possible eradicated, otherwise
their persistence into adult life may give rise to actions of
serious consequence to the individual or may produce a
neurosis which will have a detrimental effect on mental health
and the individual's usefulness as a citizen.
It is often comparatively easy to trace the source of
adnormal conduct in a child; it is however, very much more
difficult to eradicate it as in nearly all cases the attitude of
the parents, or an older relative, is at the root of the child's
mental conflicts and even the most sympathetic and skilled
worker may find this an insuperable barrier to successful
treatment, and it is for this reason that the results of treatment
are so often disappointing.
In this very difficult work the North Western Child
Guidance Clinic has been of great assistance and while its
results are limited by the considerations which I have mentioned
nevertheless the workers there have achieved marked
improvement in a number of children. During the year 8
difficult children were referred to the Clinic by this department,
one of these as a result of a recommendation from the
Juvenile Court.
SECONDARY SCHOOLS.
Medical and Dental Inspections of pupils attending
Secondary Schools in the area is undertaken on behalf of the
Middlesex Education Committee, and ophthalmic and dental
treatment given. Particulars of the work carried out will be
found in the statistical tables for Secondary Schools at the
end of this Report.