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there is no doctor in attendance and the parent is unwilling to
seek one, the case is referred to one of the School Clinics and a
report is rendered to the Secretary of the Education Committee.
Again, in instances where children are absent on account of sore
throats or because of some rash, prompt reports by the Attendance
Officers have frequently directed attention to early cases of
infectious disease.
CO-OPERATION OF VOLUNTARY BODIES.
During the year the National Society for the Prevention of
Cruelty to Children rendered assistance in cases of neglect, and
help has been obtained for some cases from the Hounslow, Heston
and Whitton Philanthropic Society, the Shaftesbury Society and
Ragged School Union, and the United Services Fund.
BLIND, DEAF, DEFECTIVE AND EPILEPTIC CHILDREN.
Periodical returns are made by the teachers of children judged
to be abnormal. Arrangements are then made for a special
medical examination, and based upon this, a report is made.
During 1925, examinations were conducted in respect of 74 children.
There are no special schools in this district for the defective.
In 1922, the Board of Education was approached to see if a
concrete proposal for the formation of a Defective School in the
area were brought forward, it would be considered, but the financial
state of the country was such, that no hope was entertained in
this direction, although the proposal put forward involved a very
small outlay.
During the year, psychotherapeutic treatment has been
successfully given to children with phobias and " nervous
conditions.
It is impossible to exaggerate the importance of a right understanding
of these cases. Their whole outlook on life can be altered
if properly treated, in some cases the principal factor to overcome
is the mother, as she will constantly " suggest " to the child that
it is nervous, by talking of it to other people in the child's presence,
until the unfortunate child becomes obsessed with the idea that it
cannot be normal. If only we could get new mothers for some
of these cases, how different their outlook on life would be.