View report page

86
special medical examination,, such children not falling within
the age groups, but were suspected by the teachers to be suffering
from slight ailments. In this way during 1920 169 children
(71 boys and 98 girls) were examined. 598 re-examinations
were made at school by the doctors, to ascertain the result
of treatment of defects found in the course of medical inspection.
5. Findings of Medical Inspection.— Table II. shows the
return of defects found in the course of medical inspection.
(a) Uncleanliness.— It will be seen that at routine medical
inspection only 122 children out of a total of 5,363 were found to
have nits, or vermin (or two per cent.), while only 13 were found
to be infected with body vermin, i.e., .2 per cent. These
results are very satisfactory, and show that the work of the
school nurses in promoting the cleanliness of children is being
well carried out, and also that on the whole the parents of Ilford
school children take an interest in the cleanliness of their children.
It must be remembered, in consideration of these figures,
that a special effort is generally made by the parents that the
children when presented for examination by the doctor should be
in a clean condition.
(b) Tonsils and Adenoids.—220 children were found to be
suffering from tonsils enlarged to such a degree that it was considered
necessary to advise the parent to obtain medical advice.
The question of operation in the treatment of enlarged tonsils and
adenoids is one of some importance, and I see no reason to alter
the remarks I made in the report of 1914 on this subject, viz. :—
"Some care has been taken in advising the operation for
the removal of enlarged tonsils and adenoids. Most cases of
enlarged tonsils are associated with carious teeth, which should
first be treated. Many slight cases can be improved by suitable
breathing exercises, and a circular describing these is being
issued where necessary. Further, the operation is by no means
free from risk, especially when it is done, as so frequently, in
an out-patient department, and the child allowed to return
home the same day. The conditions under which it has been
urged have been:—
(1) Chronic nasal obstruction with adenoids.
(2) "Running ears" with enlarged tonsils or adenoids.
(3) Deafness with adenoids.