View report page

TO THE CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE
EDUCATION COMMITTEE.
Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I herewith submit to you my Annual Report on the School
Medical Service for the year 1929.
The health of the school children during the year was well
maintained on the whole. An epidemic of Small Pox caused a
number of children to be affected, and many more were compelled
to absent themselves from school as contacts. The disease was
of a very mild type, and there has not, in a single case, been any
noticeable after effects.
In January last an additional Dentist was appointed, and it
is proposed to appoint two more Dentists in order to cope with the
enormous amount of dental defects found amongst the school
children.
The Open Air School for Girls at Fyfield, mentioned in my
last report, has now been opened, and is, so far, proving as great
a success as the Boys' School on this site.
Two Nursery Schools, each to accommodate 120 children,
will shortly be opened for the reception of children from the ages
of 2 to 5 years of age.
Though it has not yet been found practicable to erect an
additional school for mentally defective and physically defective
children, nor a school for myopic scholars, all these projects are
stili receiving consideration, and it is hoped that in the near future
a definite scheme will be formulated.
A consulting Aural Surgeon, Mr. F. Stoker, F.R.C.S., has
been engaged to periodically examine the children at the Special
Centres for the Deaf.
It is with deep regret that I have to record the death of Mr.
Erskine Henderson, F.R.C.S., who had been for many years your
Consulting Ophthalmologist. Mr. E. C. Arnold, F.R.C.S., has
been appointed temporarily to carry out the duties previously
performed by Mr. Henderson.
A statement issued by me in November, 1929, on proposed
additional services, is set out on page 190 as an Appendix to this
Report.
I am, Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
School Medical Officer.
Town Hall,
West Ham, E.15.
June, 1930.
151