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11
Medical Inspection.—During 1925 the average number of scholars on the Public Elementary
School Rolls in Willesden was 21,649. The following groups of children were examined during the
year:—
(1) All children admitted to school for the first time;
(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 medically inspected at routine and special inspections during
1925 was 13,332.
Findings of Medical Inspections.—(a) Uncleanliness.—Cleanliness inspections were carried
out in the schools on 779 occasions during the year 1925, the average number of visits paid to each
school by the Health Visitor being 24. The total number of examinations and re-examinations made
during the year was 46,490. The effect of this work is well illustrated in the following table:—
Percentage of nitty and verminous children recorded upon routine inspection at the schools
from year to year since 1914:—

(b) Tonsils and Adenoids.—During 1925, at routine and special medical inspections, 2,033
cases of enlarged tonsils and adenoids were discovered, as compared with 1,348 found in 1924, an
increase of 685 or 51 per cent.
(c) Skin Disease.—During 1925, at routine and special medical inspections, 1,519 cases of skin
disease were detected, as compared with 1,152 cases in 1924, an increase of 367 or 31 per cent. About
one-third of this increase was made up of cases of impetigo, and the remainder by miscellaneous skin
affections.
No significant alteration occurred in the numbers of other defects found at medical inspections.
Infectious Diseases.—The action taken to detect and prevent the spread of infectious
diseases was substantially the same as set forth in my Annual Report for 1913. Minor alterations
were, however, made by the Education Committee in June, 1925, in their regulations with regard to
the closure of and exclusion from school, in order to bring these regulations into accord with the
principles laid down bv the Ministry of Health and Board of Education in their joint memorandum
on this subject issued in 1925. These alterations are as follows:—
(a) Scarlet Fever.—Contacts who have not previously suffered from the disease are excluded
and re-admitted 7 days, instead of 10 days, after the date of disinfection.
(b) German Measles.—Children suffering from this disease are now re-admitted 2 weeks, instead
of 3 weeks, from the date of onset.
(c) Mumps.—In cases of this disease the date of re-admission was also altered to 2 weeks,
instead of 3 weeks from the date of onset. Moreover it was decided not to exclude any contacts from
school, whether they had previously suffered from the disease or not.
(d) Meningitis, Poliomyelitis and Encephalitis Lethargica.—The direction not to exclude contacts
from these diseases was qualified by the addition of the phrase "Except on instructions of
Medical Officer of Health."
Following Up.—All defects found at medical and dental inspections are notified to the parents,
and it is the duty of the Health Nurses to follow up these cases in their homes in order to ascertain
if the necessarv treatment has been obtained. If nothing has been done she again explains the necessity
for treatment to the parent, and advises as to the best method of obtaining such treatment.
Besides following up the Nurse undertakes the following work:—
(a) Preliminary visits to schools a few days before a medical inspection for the purpose
of weighing, measuring, testing the vision and examining the scalps, bodies and
clothing of the children.
(b) Attending the medical inspections and preparing the children for examination by
the School Medical Officer.
(c) Paying periodical visits to the schools for the purpose of cleanliness inspections,
which are held weekly in each school, as far as this is practicable.
(d) Weekly visits to the schools to confer with the Head Teachers as to cases requiring
attention.
(e) Attendance at the police court from time to time, as required, in connection with
prosecutions under Section 87 of the Education Act, 1921 (verminous children).
The Dental Nurse attends the dentist at the school dental inspections and keeps dental records.
Only one visit is at present paid in connection with each case requiring dental treatment, and this
appears to be insufficient to secure the necessary treatment for these children.
Medical Treatment.—During the year 1925 school children were followed up by the Health
Department on account of 18,701 medical defects and 8,818 dental defects. Of those defects found
to require treatment, medical or dental treatment was obtained for 11,363 and domestic treatment
was obtained for 6,367. 88.6 per cent. of the medical defects were treated, 52.9 per cent. receiving
medical treatment and 35.7 per cent. domestic treatment; 22 per cent. of the dental defects followed