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From October 22nd to the end of December, a medical man, who was a School
Manager, examined about 300 school children—chiefly at the school—and referred
about 90 to the Tuberculosis Officers for confirmation. These officers confirmed
his diagnosis of the presence of Pulmonary Tuberculosis in 45 cases, as well as 11
children who were not at the time attending school, but were contacts of the school
children in question.
Without expressing an opinion whether the general practitioner referred to
exceeded his duty as a School Manager, these facts show the necessity of a further
examination of school children, when they appear to be obviously in bad health
or of a low physical standard.
The medical examinations of school children by the School Medical Officers
of the London County Council take place during the first year of school life, and
also at the following periods, viz., when the child is between eight and nine years
of age, between eleven and twelve years of age, and also, on request, when the
child leaves the school. The children can, however, be examined at any period
by request of the teachers, if the latter think that the children are in bad health.
I have arranged to send to Dr. Menzies (the School Medical Officer in charge
of the Eastern Division) a weekly list of all school children from four to fourteen
years of age notified to me to be suffering from Phthisis, together with the names
of the schools they attend. The other children in the family can then be examined
by the School Medical Officers. The latter will be able to keep the phthisical children
under observation, and probably arrange for playground classes or open-air schools
for their benefit. Special arrangements can also be made for their feeding. The
School After-care Committee would be in a position, not only to advise the parents
what occupations to avoid for these children, but also to recommend the occupations
which would be most suitable to their condition.
Personally, I do not see why arrangements cannot be made for a portion of
Victoria Park, as well as gardens in connection with private houses, to be utilised
for open-air schools for the benefit of tuberculous children, with special departments
for those with suspicious symptons only. I admit that it would be an
additional expense and cause an increase to the Education rate, which is already
a high one. Fifteen children between five and fifteen years of age, and thirtysix
young people between fifteen and twenty-five years of age died in the Borough
of Stepney in 1912 from Consumption, in addition to twenty-three between five and
twenty-five years of age who died from Tuberculous diseases other than Consumption.
None of these were able to return to the community anything proportionate
to that which, in actual money, was spent upon them.
VI. Care Committee.—The organisation of a voluntary committee for :—
(a) The assistance of patients needing extra nourishment or for aiding
the family during the enforced absence of the bread-winner.