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Medical Inspection.—During 1931 the average number of scholars on the Public Elementary
School Rolls in Willesden was 20,748. 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 had not been examined on reaching the age of 12.
The total number of children medically inspected at routine and special inspections during
1931 was 13,180.
Findings of Medical Inspections.—(a) Uncleanliness.—Cleanliness inspections were carried
out in the schools on 627 occasions during the year 1931, the average number of visits paid to each
school by the Health Visitor being 18. The total number of examinations and re.examinations made
during the year was 60,071.
This is highly important work. In 1914, when it was first begun, the percentage of nitty or
verminous children in the schools was as high as 20. In these days a child was not called nitty or
verminous except there were many nits on the hair. In 1931 the percentage of nitty or verminous
children in the schools was only 3.6, when a child with only a few nits is placed in this category.
It will therefore be noted that enormous improvement has been effected, far greater actually than
the figures show.
(b) Tonsils and Adenoids.—During 1931, at routine and special medical inspections, 1,668
cases of enlarged tonsils and adenoids were discovered, as compared with 2,021 found in 1930, 1,773
in 1929, 2,070 in 1928, 1,988 in 1927.
(c) Skin Disease.—During 1931, at routine and special medical inspections, 1,807 cases of skin
disease were detected, as compared with 1,888 in 1930, 1,809 in 1929, 2,241 in 1928, 2,134 in 1927.
(d) Enlarged Cervical Glands (non.tuberculous).—During 1931 at routine and special medical
inspections 302 cases of this defect were noted as compared with 505 in 1930, 380 in 1929, 315 in
1928, 566 in 1927.
Infectious Diseases.—The action taken to detect and prevent the spread of infectious
diseases was as set forth in my Annual Report for 1925.
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 necessary treatment has been obtained. If nothing has been done the Health Nurse again
explains the necessity for treatment to the parent, and advises as to the best method of obtaining such
treatment.
Medical Treatment.—During the year 1931 school children were followed up by the Health
Department on account of 17,403 medical defects and 9,295 dental defects. Of those defects found
to require treatment, medical or dental treatment was obtained for 15,492 and domestic treatment
was obtained for 3,928. 85.3 per cent. of the medical defects were treated, 61.9 per cent. receiving
medical treatment and 23.4 per cent. domestic treatment; 55 per cent. of the dental defects followed
up were treated. No record is available of defects requiring treatment which were not followed up.
86 per cent. of the total medical defects treated and 98 per cent. of the total dental defects treated
were dealt with by the Education Committee. The remainder, or 14 per cent. of the medical defects
and 2 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 92,231 attendances at the Health Centres in 1931, as compared with
60,147 in 1930.
Crippling Defects and Orthopedics.—An Orthopaedic Clinic staffed by an Orthopaedic
Surgeon and a specially qualified nurse began work on June 14th, 1930, after the Stonebridge Health
Centre was opened. The report of the Orthopaedic surgeon appears as Appendix F.
Abnormal Children.—Under this category are included the following classes of children:—
Merely dull or backward, mentally defective (feeble.minded), imbecile, moral defective, idiot,
physically defective, blind or partially blind, deaf.mute or semi.mute or semi.deaf and epileptic.
These cases are reported to the Authority by parents, Head Teachers, Health Nurses, School
Attendance Officers, Hospitals and similar institutions, voluntary societies and private medical
practitioners. They are submitted to a special medical examination and are placed in a Special Day
or Residential School or ordinary elementary school, according to the character and degree of the
abnormality.
During the year 1931 1,348 special children were examined or re.examined. Of the 405
original examinations included in the 1,348 examined, 75 were found to be physically defective,
18 mentally defective, 2 blind and partially blind, 32 dull and backward, 245 anaemic and debilitated,
20 defective speech, 3 nervousness, 10 normal.