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such children (56 boys and 69 girls) were examined. 1,402 reexaminations
(763 boys and 639 girls) were made at school by the
doctors, to ascertain the result of treatment of defects found in
the course of medical inspection. A total number of 5,534
examinations was made at the various schools during the year.
5. Findings of Medical Inspection.—Table II. shows the
return of defects found in the course of medical inspection.
(a) Uncleanliness.— At routine medical inspection 227 children
out of a total of 4,007 (or 5.6 per cent.) were found to have
nits or vermin in their hair, while only 8 (or .2 per cent.) were
found to be infected with body vermin. It must be remembered in
considering 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, and a comparison
should be made with the surveys of cleanliness made by the School
Nurses, and reported on page 91.
(b) Tonsils and Adenoids.— 556 children (or 13.8 per cent. of
those examined) were found to be suffering either from adenoids
or from tonsils so enlarged, or with such symptoms, that it was
considered necessary to advise the parents to obtain medical
advice.
(c) Tuberculosis.— 18 suspected cases of pulmonary tuberculosis
were detected, and these were referred to their own medical
attendant or to the Tuberculosis Dispensary for observation purposes.
(d) Skin Disease.— 2 cases of Scabies (Itch), 13 of Impetigo,
and 17 cases of other diseases of the skin were discovered at
routine medical inspection.
The effect of medical inspection is strikingly shown in the
reduction of the incidence of scabies. In 1920 when medical
inspection was first put on a proper basis after the war period
there were no less than 30 cases of itch discovered at Medical