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101
" touch with the personal hygiene of the population. While
" it is not expected that by establishing the necessary adminis"
tration on the broad basis of public health all difficulties will
" be avoided, the Board are convinced that this is the only
" practicable method and that which is most likely to promote
" economy, harmony, and efficiency.''
" It is imperative that the close inter-relation between
" school hygiene and general hygiene, particularly that of the
" home of the child, should be secured and maintained."
Since the issue of the Memorandum, Local Authorities
have been most active throughout the country in making
arrangements to put into operation the provision in relation to
the medical examination of school children upon the lines
suggested by the Board of Education. I11 most towns the
medical officer of health is the medical adviser to the Education
Authority, and, where necessary, medical assistants have been
appointed to act under his direction and supervision in the new
work, thus preventing dual control and maintaining the close
inter-relation between school hygiene and general hygiene.
Such a system increases the effectiveness of school inspection,
as it is carried out in conjunction with the general public health
work of the community.
In London, however, it is proposed to divert school
hygiene from the authority responsible for the other branches
of public health work, the London County Council being the
Education Authority. No definite scheme has been formulated
yet, but probably a very large number of medical inspectors will
be appointed to act under their direct control. There are nearly
a million children attending the London County Council schools
in London. It will be impossible for the inspectors to have
knowledge of the home condition of the children, or to take
action in relation to infectious sickness in the homes. Arrangements
could no doubt have been made to secure the assistance
of the 28 Borough Councils (the sanitary authorities in London)