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38
MEDICAL INSPECTIONS AT SCHOOL.
(See Tables I A and I C, and Table II A, cols. 2 and 3.)
During the year 3,035 children were examined, necessitating
the holding of 245 medical inspection sessions at the schools, the
average attendance being 12.4 per session.
483 individual pupils were found to require treatment
(excluding Dental Diseases and Infestation with Vermin), giving
a percentage of 15.9, as against 30 per cent. for the previous year.
The Assistant School Medical Officers, commenting on their
inspections during 1948, state that although skin cases occur from
time to time, instances of scabies, etc., are few and far between
There have been a few cases of multiple boils, but these have
cleared up with local treatment together with general and sunlight
treatment.
Cases of flat foot are numerous, although many children with
this condition do not seem to suffer any pain or inconvenience
The inferior footwear of war-time years may have still accounted
for many of these cases.
The interest taken by parents in the health of the child is a
source of satisfaction, and many mothers attend at the clinics
when their children are being examined. Opportunity is taken
at these times to obtain consent of the parents for the "booster"
doses of anti-diphtheria serum, at 5 and 9 years of age. Every
effort is being made to achieve a 100% protection figure, no
forgetting those who have not already been primarily immunised
The examinations themselves show a satisfactory standarc
both of health and general physique.
SPECIAL INSPECTIONS.
(See Tables I B, II A, cols 4 and 5, III, Group I, and Table VIII.)
4,149 cases have come under medical supervision during the
year, necessitating 6,656 medical examinations.
131 cases requiring special investigation or certification were
referred for examination at the Municipal Offices.
The great importance of the School Clinic is demonstrated
by the very low incidence of skin infections, impetigo, scabies,
etc., and although only minor complaints can be treated, disease
can be often readily detected at the onset, and an early start of
treatment made. This has been found to be particularly important
with regard to ears; previously, many cases of acute otitis
proceeded to perforation, with a recurrent discharge and frequent
impairment of hearing; now it is possible to initiate Penicillin
treatment with quite dramatic results.
212 cases were referred to Farnborough Hospital for Pediatricians'
and other specialists' advice and treatment, and I would