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One boy of five had an umbilical hernia
Other defects or curiosities found were:—One girl with congenital
dislocation of the hip on the right side; a boy, aged 13, with exostoses
on almost every bone in his body; a girl with a cervical rib; and a child
with six toes on each foot. The latter case was one of two separate fifth toes;
the second and third toes were united; this child had a brother and sister
with a similar deformity, but no other case could be traced among the
child's parents, or grandparents, or aunts or uncles.
A case of albinism has been mentioned before. In this case no
previous case could be traced in the family history.
Mentally Defective Children.
No special provision is made for dealing with mentally defective or
epileptic children. As has been mentioned in a previous part of this
report 0.5 per cent. of the boys, and 0.9 per cent. of the girls inspected
were considered to be mentally defective. If this proportion held
throughout the schools, there would be about 92 mentally defective
children. The question of the special education of these children requires
the serious consideration of the Education Committee. They do not gain
in the ordinary elementary school the benefit they are capable of gaining,
and they are a nuisance to the class in which they are situated.
The Education Authority are not under a legal obligation to deal
specially with these children, but they may provide facilities for their
examination and certification, in which case parents of such children must
present their children for examination.
The Education Authority may make provision for the education
of such children by all or any of the following means
(a) By classes in public elementary schools certified as special
classes.
(b) By boarding out such children in a house conveniently near to
a certified special class or school.
(c) By establishing schools, certified by the Board of Education
for defective children.
Epileptics.
Several children that are liable to occasional epileptic fits are in
attendance at the schools, and if the fits are not at frequent intervals, and
are not severe, probably do not interfere seriously with the instruction.
In the case of the fits becoming severe or frequent, of course, they have to
be excluded. But at present there is no option but to allow them to attend
the ordinary school when possible, or to deprive them of education
altogether. A special school or class for epileptic children is desirable.