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143
Valvular disease of the heart was present in 21 children, of which 19 were
cases of mitral regurgitation, and 2 were cases of mitral stenosis. Of the 21
cases, 6 were in boys and 15 in girls. The 2 cases of mitral stenosis were both
boys.
Two boys examined during the year in the ordinary routine were found to
have the heart on the right side. In neither case was there any valvular
defect.
Lungs.
Forty-three children, or one per cent., had bronchial catarrh at the time of
examination. This was practically confined to the children of five years, which
age accounted for 25 boys and 12 girls out of this number. Three children, all
boys of ten years of age, were subject to attacks of spasmodic asthma.
Tuberculosis.
The School Medical Inspector, during 1913, sent eight "B" notifications
to the M.O.H. Of these, two referred to pulmonary tuberculosis and six to
other forms of tubercle.
No case of pulmonary tuberculosis was found among the routine inspections.
There were two cases of suspected pulmonary tuberculosis. There was one
case of non-pulmonary tuberculosis, tubercular disease of spine; and one
case of suspected tuberculous glands of neck.
Four children had evidence of past joint tuberculosis, two of tuberculosis of
knee, one of hip, and one of ankle. Eleven children had evidence of past
tuberculosis of cervical glands.
Nervous System.
Five children were subject to epileptic fits, six children to attacks of sick
headache or migraine. Two children, a boy of ten and girl of nine, were subject
to " night terrors."
Rickets.
There was a history of rickets in 21 cases. In five cases only was there
unquestionable evidence of previous rickets. In our experience rickets is of
very small importance in children of school age. In cases where there is a
history of it in infancy, by the time school age is reached any deleterious effects
have for the most part ceased to operate.