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19.
Table IV gives the numbers in each of the selected years
grouped under their main disabilities and demonstrates the
great reduction in preventable physical conditions.

In Tables II and IV we have grouped children under their
principal handicap but it is not possible to convey the true
picture in this way since so many of them have two or more
major disabilities. The position is further complicated by
the existence of different causes for the same disabilities;
with the asthmatics, for example, we have placed two children
in the acquired group since their condition is secondary to
lung infections while there are eleven children whose asthma
is clearly hereditary and nine in whom the psycho-somatic
factor predominates. The following examples may explain our
recognition of different causes for the same symptom complex.
1. E.R. had two severe attacks of pneumonia in infancy
and subsequently developed recurrent bronchitis and asthma.
Because of very poor attendance at her infants' school she
was admitted to Wingfield House at the age of seven. In the
two years she has been with us she has grown 4½ inches and
gained 10¼ lbs. She has advanced two and a half years in
educational progress and responded so well to physiotherapy
that her chest is now clear and she will soon return to
normal school. During the last term she has been absent for
two days only.
2. M. B. on the other hand, is a typical case of the
hereditary eczema/asthma complex. Infantile eczema appeared
with teething followed later by acute attacks of asthma. He
has had several admissions to hospital for broncho-pneumonia
but now, at eleven, he is steadily improving. Eczema is
still present and he is still liable to sharp attacks of
asthma when exposed to any stress or anxiety as occurred when
transfer to ordinary school was requested by the parents.
After two years Michael is still not ready to leave us but
his condition continues to improve slowly (there is a strong