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28
INTRODUCTION—SCHOOL MEDICAL SERVICE.
Throughout 1943 the services continued at their pre-war
level, in spite of frequent war-time changes in staff. It is worthy
of reiteration that the School Medical Service is not a selfcontained
unit, but is part of the general Health Services of
the Borough, and, with the exception of domiliciary treatment,
covers the field of prevention of disease and the limitation of
disease. Such special clinics as eye clinic, orthoptic clinic,
orthopaedic clinic, including massage, ultra violet ray treatment
and remedial exercises, and a full dental service, including
orthodontics, all play an important part in the rehabilitation of
the unfit school child. Arrangements are made through
hospitals for the operational treatment of ear, nose and throat
conditions, and use made of Child Guidance Clinics for direction
of the maladjusted child.
Not the least important factor for the success of a School
Medical Service is the school nurses' knowledge of the defects
in the home environment of the patient. In most cases treated
at the clinics, and more especially in such conditions as
impetigo, success is dependent on the hygienic habits of the
child at home. It, therefore, cannot be too often stressed,
especially in these days when discussing a National Health
Service, that environmental hygiene in the full application of
its meaning, at home, at school, at work and at play, is of
greater importance in the promotion of health than is the
provision for the minor ailment treatment of the disease
established. The correlation between malnutrition and dirty
and overcrowded environment is well known and is a case in
point.
The extension of the scheme for milk and meals at school
is playing an ever increasing part in the health of the school
child. Mr. Atkinson and Miss Bentley, organisers of physical
education, whose report appears within this Annual Report, give
a significant paragraph:—
"Physical exercise has continued to play an important
part in the curricula of all schools and may claim, with the
excellent arrangements for school milk and meals, to contribute
in no small measure to the improved nutrition
appearance of our school children." . . . "Good nutrition
depends not Only on correct feeding, but also on the ability
of the body to make the best use of what food is available
to it."