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barefoot work does not affect the incidence of verrucas in anyway, inspection
and the focussing of attention on the problem may reduce the number of cases.
School B - Secondary Modern Mixed School
The girls in this school do Physical Education separate from the boys who
were not included in the survey.
Eight classes in the second and third year were inspected, 146 girls in all.
At the first inspection nine verrucas were found (four already under treatment
and five discovered), giving a rate of just over 6%.
Seventy-two girls continued to work barefoot for the next 13 months.
Three girls wearing shoes developed verrucas during this period.
Five girls without shoes developed verrucas during this period.
At the final inspection three verrucas were found (two under treatment and
one being discovered at the inspection).
By the final inspection only 113 girls were seen so that this gives a rate
of 2.6%. The numbers fell so much because almost a whole form left school
a few weeks before the final inspection and there were a few absentees.
Follow-up enquiries at school and the local foot clinic revealed no record
that any of the absent children developed verrucas so that 2.6% cannot be
considered as an under estimate of infection at the final inspection.
As in school 'A* it would appear that inspection and the focussing of attention
on the care of the feet improves the incidence of this infection.
FLEXIBILITY OF THE FEET
No girl had feet in good condition and approximately 50% had feet in fair condition,
i.e. flexibility but with poor muscle tone.
Approximately 50% had feet in poor condition, i.e. stiff joints and poor muscle
tone.
The results also did not suggest that the feet of the girls who did barefoot work
were any better at the end of the survey than those who wore shoes. Indeed there was
some evidence that the feet were in a poorer condition.
Both the Physical Education Organiser and the Medical Officer were appalled at the
poor condition of the girls feet (apart from orthopaedic defects) and both these
observers consider that the type of shoes the girls wear and the very little walking
that they appear to do have adverse affects on the muscle tone.
It is hoped to write up this survey in much greater detail and if possible publish
it in one of the medical journals. Although the figures are perhaps not significant the
evidence such as it is does not suggest that the wearing of shoes affects the incidence
of verrucas one way or the other.
(97)