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36
Children from the Infants' Schools are seldom sent to the
Special School and I invariably examine, more than once, all
children presented to me as Mentally Deficient.
It is quite a serious matter to a child to be labelled M.D. at any
time of its life and I am fairly confident that few children remain
in the ordinary Schools who are permanently incapable of receiving
proper benefit from the instructions given therein.
On Table II. may be seen how few children are found at Routine
Medical Inspection to be suffering from minor ailments, as compared
with the number sent to the Clinics.
Only occasionally do the doctors now find at the Schools a child
suffering from Ringworm or sores—a contrast to the early days
and a change entirely due to the intelligent supervision exercised
by the Teachers and Nurses.
Measles were present in an epidemic form from February to
May and Whooping Cough during November and December,
causing a considerable loss of School attendances.
Compared with 1923, the number of children failing with
Scarlet Fever was less by half; the number found suffering with
Diphtheria greater by 50 per cent.
The maximum number of cases of Diphtheria in any month
at one School was 5; in five Schools 3 cases occurred, and in 11
others 2 children contracted the disease.
I think we can safely assume that very few children suffering
from Diphtheria escape detection, and the part played by the
School Medical Service in this respect may be judged from the
fact that 120 cases, or 72 per cent. of the whole, were discovered
at the Clinic or by way of examination of Contacts.
The usual Sanitary surveys of the Schools were made during
the year. Fifteen Schools—all Departments—were found to be
quite satisfactory, and 9 had defects of a minor character.
As in previous years, effective co-operation and the most cordial
relations have existed between Teachers, Attendance Officers
and Medical Staff.
Mr. Longman has been specially helpful by his willing co-operation
in everything undertaken for the betterment of the children's
health.
I beg to remain,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
J. J. CLARKE,