View report page

9
35 per cent, of all the births occurring in Willesden attended the Council's Clinics and the
Infant Mortality rate amongst the babies attending the Clinics in 1920 was 43 as against 76 amongst
the babies not attending the Council's Clinics.
It is not suggested that continuous medical supervision of the mother and child is the only
factor which contributes to the low Infant Mortality rate amongst the babies attending the Council's
Clinics, but the experience of the past three years shews that it is a dominating factor, the development
of which is likely to improve the public health to the greatest possible extent.
Public Elementary School Children.
Medical Inspection.—During the year 1920 the average number of Scholars on the School
Rolls in Willesden was 24,997. Article 58 (b) of the Code of Regulations for Public Elementary
Schools requires annually the medical inspection of the following groups of children to be undertaken
:—
(1) All children admitted to the schools.
(2) All children between 8 and 9 years of age; and
(3) All children between 12 and 13 years of age, together with children over 13 years
of age who have not been examined on reaching the age of 12.
The total number of children in these age groups is approximately 8,332. The work of
medical inspection of children in the schools has been in abeyance in Willesden since 3rd December,
1915. The authority has since that date directed attention to ailing children and the provision
of remedial measures for the conditions found.
Medical Treatment.—During the year 1920, school children came under the notice of
the Medical Officer on account of 16,417 medical defects and 5,089 dental defects. Treatment was
obtained for 19,906 of the defects which came under notice and were found to require treatment.
97.1 per cent, of the medical defects were treated and 84.2 per cent, of the dental defects. Of
the total medical defects treated, 88.7 per cent., and of the total dental defects treated, 97.7 per
cent, were dealt with by the Education Committee through the Clinics, Municipal Hospital or Home
Visitation. The remainder or 11.3 per cent, of the Medical defects and 2.3 per cent, of the dental
defects treated were dealt with by private practitioners, voluntary Hospitals or other charitable
institutions or the Poor Law. In connection with the defects treated, the children concerned made
75,258 attendances at the school clinics in 1920 as compared with 57,203 or an increase of 31.5 per
cent., and spent a total of approximately 6,000 days in hospital in 1920 as compared with 7,500
days in 1919, or a diminution of approximately 20 per cent., due to lack of hospital accommodation.
Cleanliness in the Schools.—Cleanliness inspections were carried out in the schools by
the Health Visitors on 527 occasions during the year and 31,759 examinations were made at the
schools. Approximately 21,724 individual children were examined and 2,748 individual children
were found unclean, or 12.6 per cent. The total number of individual children found unclean during
the year, whether at the school cleanliness inspections or otherwise, was 2,920. As the total number
of children on the rolls of the schools is 24,997, it will be seen that 12 per cent, came under the notice
of the Health Department on account of nitty or verminous conditions. If regular routine cleanliness
inspections can be maintained, a considerable reduction of this percentage will be effected.
It is, however, very difficult for the Health Visitors to find time for this work owing to the pressure
of other duties.
Co-operation of Parents, Teachers and Attendance Officers.—When medical inspection
first began in 1908, there were parents who considered that medical inspection was an interference
with their liberty of action and that they had a perfect right to deal with their own children
as they liked. The number of such parents to-day is practically nil and all are only too desirous
of co-operating as far as they can with the Medical Officer for the benefit of the child. Parents too,
are better educated in respect of the importance of attending at once to abnormal conditions which
they may notice in their children. In 1920, 40 per cent, of the conditions referred to the School
Medical Officer were so referred by parents as against 3 per cent, in 1914. In the same way, teachers
and school attendance officers co-operate to make use of the special advantages which the School
Medical Service offers in connection with their work relative to the school child. As far as possible
Health Visitors visit the schools and Departments in their area once a week and have the advantage
of an interchange of views with the teacher respecting individual children under their care.
The Health Visitor also visits at the home in connection with the treatment of defects which have
come under notice. She is invariably well received and the parents talk freely with her as to the
condition and as to the best means of having the defect remedied. Such visits are valuable in
assisting the parent to understand the nature of the defect and its influence on the future health
and earning capacity of the child.
Abnormal Children.—All children thought to be abnormal either as regards their mental
or physical condition, and who appear unsuitable to attend an ordinary elementary school, are
referred to the School Medical Officer for special consideration. Information regarding these children
is received from Head Teachers, Parents, Health Nurses, Attendance Officers, Private Medical
Practitioners, Voluntary Societies, other Local Authorities and Hospitals. Cases so referred are
submitted to a special examination and recommendations are made to the Education Committee
as to the best method of dealing with each case, according to the abnormality found. Instruction
in a special day school or residential institution may be considered advisable or surgical appliances