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and so, to-day, we find that provision in this respect has
been made everywhere.
Medical Inspection of School Children.
There were 24,536 children attending the Willesden
schools in the middle of the year 1916.
Owing to the shortage of medical staff the medical
inspection of specified age groups was not undertaken as a
routine measure during the year, but instead, periodic visits
were made by the available medical staff to all the schools
with the view of picking out, by rapid survey, children who
appeared to be ailing, for further examination. Two visits
were paid to each department during the year. In this way
1,757 children were examined, and 2,286 defects were found.
1,436 of these children were referred for medical or dental
treatment on account of 1,743 defects. On the whole, this
method of examination cannot be considered an efficient substitute
for routine medical inspection, as it only brings to
light the more obvious defects such as nasal obstruction,
squint, anaemia, and deformities which in the majority of
instances have been previously noted by the teacher and
referred to the Medical Officer. In addition it does not give
the examining Medical Officer an opportunity of talking
over with the parents defective conditions which may be
brought to light.
Medical Treatment for School Children.
In addition to the cases noted by the medical staff on
the occasion of their visits to the schools teachers and others
continued to refer during the year, a large number of children
to the Medical Officer, many of whom required medical
or dental treatment. Altogether, 5,343 school children with
6,010 defects were referred for treatment during the year.
3,881 of these defects were dealt with under the supervision