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96
morning at the School Clinic in Station Road, making a
total attendance of 5,013 in the year, or 3.3 attendances
per child. This does not include attendance for actual
treatment, there being a further 8,544 attendances made
at the minor ailments treatment Clinic. A child thus
makes on an average 8.8 attendances at the Clinic each
year. Further the 1,528 children attending the medical
inspection have been found to suffer from 4,097 defects,
or 2.6 defects per child. The inter-relationship of these
defects in the same child is usually a close one; a child
with Spinal Curvature may be caused by poor musculature
because of mal-nutrition. Again a child may attend early
in the year with Tonsillitis, and later in the year with
Rheumatism, the result of the Tonsillitis.
From these figures quoted above one can realize the
important part the School Clinic plays in social services
in Bromley, and how much it is doing to remedy those
minor defects which would remain untreated and unobserved
were it not for these public health services.
When one finds 23 per cent. of children in school with untreated
and uncorrected defects, it is a sufficient answer
to those who would say that private services could replace
existing public service. Were it not for routine medical
inspections, these defects would remain undiscovered until
the child became sufficiently ill to call for domiciliary
treatment.
In summarising the reports covering 1925-1930, I have
submitted figures indicating the state of the child at school,
and the state of the child at Medical Inspection Clinic.
These figures are of interest, but it must not be overlooked
that during these years the population of Bromley has not
only increased in numbers, but has changed by the influx
of housing at Downham and Palace Estates.
Routine Medical Special
Inspections. Inspections.
Total individual children examined,
1925-1930 7,273 6,246
Percentage of children examined
showing defects:—
Eyes 6 per cent. 9 per cent.
Tonsils and Adenoids 12 „ „ 28 „ „