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Mr. C. W. Truelove, the Headmaster, takes great interest
in Medical Inspection at the School, with the result that a large
percentage of the parents attend the two inspections each year.
He greatly assists in dealing with "difficult" cases.
All the pupils seem particularly happy in their new School. A
sports ground is available next to the School, which gives the
opportunity of taking organised games as part of the curriculum.
Artificial Sunlight Treatment
The following is a report received from Dr. Eva Morton on
West Ham School Children treated at the Sunlight Clinic at the
Children's Hospital, Balaam Street, Plaistow, on behalf of the
Education Committee:
During the year 196 patients were treated at the Clinic for
School Children, the greater number of whom were referred for
debility and malnutrition. Catarrh, rheumatism, anaemia, unstable
nervous system and enlarged glands were the diagnoses next in
frequency. Asthma, chorea, alopecia, otorrhoea and enuresis each
accounting for a few additional cases. One boy, 9 years of age,
suffering from the sequelae of Encephalitis Lethargica who had
48 treatments, showed a remarkable improvement as regards
his sleep, appetite and speech. Of the cases discharged during
the year, the enormous majority could be listed as "greatly improved,"
the next largest group being "improved"; of those
"unchanged," which formed a very small percentage of the whole,
nearly all had received seven treatments or less. A case each
with thread worms, enlarged tonsils, and heart disease, who received
respectively fourteen, twelve, and ten treatments, showed
no improvement and three cases of "unstable nervous system"
with twenty-nine, seventeen, and eleven treatments, also remained
unchanged.
The results of treatment are estimated in regard to (a) the
particular condition for which the case was referred for treatment,
and (b) one or more of the following points:—General condition,
appetite, weight, sleep, alertness and haemoglobin test—nearly
all the children put on weight—many to a striking degree—and
as in previous years, the haemoglobin test in practically every
case showed a rise to nearly normal. Most of the cases of chorea
or with choreic tendencies and those of "unstable nervous system"
or "nervous debility," did surprisingly well, as did eleven out of
twelve cases of sub-acute rheumatism.
The attendances have been satisfactory on the whole, and
the results of the year's work definitely confirm the findings of
previous years as to the value of ultra violet radation therapy.
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