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Medical Inspection.—During the year ending 31st March, 1938, the average number of
scholars on the Public Elementary School Rolls, including the Special Schools, in Willesden was 18,995.
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
1938 was 13,465.
Findings of Medical Inspections.—(a) Uncleanliness.—-Cleanliness inspections were carried
out in the schools on 572 occasions during the year 1938, 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 52,857.
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 1931, when a child with only a few nits was
placed in this category, the percentage of nitty or verminous children in the schools had dropped to 3.6.
It will therefore be noted that enormous improvement had been effected, far greater actually than
the figures show. In 1938, the percentage was 3.8.
The first reverse in the steady decline which had been maintained since 1920 was in 1933,
when the percentage rose to 4.1.
Percentage of Nitty and Verminous individual children recorded upon routine cleanliness inspection
at the Schools from year to year since 1914:—
1914 20%
1915 23%
1916-19 Results not recorded owing to war.
1920 11.9%
1921-25 7.9%
1926-30 4.6%
1931-35 3.8%
1936 4.0%
1937 4.2%
1938 3.8%
(b) Tonsils and Adenoids.—During 1938 at routine and special medical inspections, 1,168 cases
of enlarged tonsils and adenoids were discovered, as compared with 1,161 found in 1937, 1,165 in 1936,
1,114 in 1935, 1,150 in 1934, 1,361 in 1933, 1,394 in 1932, 1,668 in 1931, 2,021 in 1930.
(c) Skin Disease.—During 1938, at routine and special medical inspections, 1,281 cases of skin
disease were detected as compared with 1,545 in 1937, 1,507 in 1936, 1,580 in 1935, 1,503 in 1934,
1,727 in 1933, 1,607 in 1932, 1,807 in 1931, 1,888 in 1930.
(d) Enlarged Cervical Glands (non-tuberculous).—During 1938, at routine and special medical
inspections, 159 cases of this defect were noted, as compared with 144 in 1937, 145 in 1936, 107 in 1935,
150 in 1934, 275 in 1933, 285 in 1932, 302 in 1931, 505 in 1930.
Infectious Diseases.—The action taken to detect and prevent the spread of infectious
diseases was as set forth in my Annual Report for 1925. Appendix N.
Following Up.—All defects found requiring treatment 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 as may be necessary, in order to ascertain if the 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 1938, school children were followed up by the Health
Department on account of 16,887 medical defects and 7,045 dental defects. Of those defects found
to require treatment, medical or dental treatment was obtained for 15,826 and domestic treatment
was obtained for 2,982. 89 per cent. of the medical defects were treated, 71 per cent. receiving medical
treatment and 18 per cent. domestic treatment, 64 per cent. of the dental defects followed up were
treated. No record is available of defects requiring treatment which were not followed up. 95 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 5 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 Public Assistance. In connection with defects treated, the children
concerned made 92,634 attendances at the Health Centres in 1938.