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28 cases of inflammation of or discharge from the eyes of infants or of cases of ophthalmia
neonatorum entering Willesden after notification elsewhere were visited by the Health Nurses. All
recovered without any permanent injury to the eyes.
Teaching of Mothercraft at the Centres.
An important part of the work of each Health Centre is its Mothercraft Section.
This is in special charge of one Health Visitor at each Centre, and holds its sessions in the
afternoons.
The work has proceeded on the same lines as outlined on page 10 of last year's report.
During 1932, 552 Mothercraft sessions were held, with 6,536 attendances of mothers, and 6,227
attendances at the nurseries.
THE SCHOOL MEDICAL SERVICE.
Schools.—There are 36 public elementary schools in the district. Of this number 24 are
Council and 12 church or non-provided schools.
Included in the number of the Council schools are 2 special schools, 1 for mentally defective
and 1 for physically defective children.
The hygienic condition of the schools in Willesden is very variable. Many of the more modern
schools leave little to be desired as regards ventilation, lighting, warming, equipment and sanitation,
but some of the other schools fall short of the standard desirable.
Water to the schools is supplied in all instances direct from the mains of the Metropolitan
Water Board.
Adequate facilities are provided for the supply of drinking water for the scholars.
Medical Inspection.—During the year ending 31st March, 1932, the average number of
scholars on the Public Elementary School Rolls, including the Special Schools, in Willesden was 21,086.
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
1932 was 13,795.
Findings of Medical Inspections.—(a) Uncleanliness.—Cleanliness inspections were carried
out in the schools on 579 occasions during the year 1932, the average number of visits paid to each
school by the Health Visitor being 17. The total number of examinations and re-examinations made
during the year was 57,842.
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 those days a child was not called nitty or
verminous except there were many nits on the hair. In 1932 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 1932, at routine and special medical inspections, 1,394
cases of enlarged tonsils and adenoids were discovered, as compared with 1,668 found in 1931, 2,021
in 1930, 1,773 in 1929, 2,070 in 1928.