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under observation. Thus out of a total of 1,905 children examined
in school, 377 or 19.8% were found to have dental caries
to such an extent as to require treatment or to require their being
kept under observation. During the year 1930 the percentage
was 22.0.
(j) Crippling Defects. Four cases of spinal curvature requiring
treatment were found at the routine inspections. There was
also one case of deformity due to rickets requiring treatment and
two slight cases requiring to be kept under observation. In
addition, there were a number of cases of mild deformity due
to round shoulders, flat foot, etc. 13 of these required treatment
and 15 required to be kept under observation in school. At
the special inspections at the Health Centre there were 9 cases
of spinal curvature requiring treatment and one case requiring
observation. Six other children were found to be suffering from
deformities requiring treatment and 3 requiring observation.
(k) Malnutrition. Malnutrition is not common amongst
school children in Wimbledon. 1,905 children were examined
during the year as routines and only seven were found to be
suffering from malnutrition to such an extent as to require
treatment. This gives an incidence of 3.0 per 1,000 as compared
with 3 per 1,000 for the previous year. It is impossible to
draw any deductions from the small increase in this figure. The
incidence of malnutrition amongst the school children of the
whole of England and Wales for the year 1930 amounted to
10.6 per 1,000. It is thus evident that the position in
Wimbledon as compared with the rest of the country is very
favourable. There is no real evidence that the economic depression
which prevailed throughout 1931 had any obvious effect on
the nutrition of the school children in the Borough.
In addition to the seven children requiring treatment there
were 14 children whose nutrition could not be regarded as satisfactory.
They did not require treatment but required to be kept
under observation.
At the special examinations at the Health Centre, 14
children were found to be suffering from malnutrition requiring
treatment and 2 requiring observation.
The standard of clothing and footgear continued to be very
satisfactory.
6. INFECTIOUS DISEASE.
The means adopted to prevent the spread of infectious
disease amongst school children are:—
(a) Exclusion of children actually suffering from infectious
diseases, or coming from infected houses.
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