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In addition to the above,39 children were treated at the Fyfield Open Air School, 312 treatments
being given. The physiotherapist made 8 visits during the year, during which the cases
were reviewed and advice given to the nursing staff.
HEART DISEASE AND RHEUMATISM. All conditions of the heart and circulation are grouped
together under one heading on the child's medical schedule. During the year under review 57
cases were referred at Periodic and Special inspections for treatment and 63 for observation
these being only one-third of the figures for the previous year. Most of the defects found
consist of cases of anaemia, chilblains, and functional disturbances of the heart of no serious
import, and relatively few are organic lesions due to the effects of rheumatism. An analysis
of cases seen by the paediatrician for the first time during the year shows that only 6
children were found to have a heart lesion - 2 were of congenital origin, 2 due to rheumatism,
and in 2 cases the lesion was regarded as of no significance. As Dr.Hinden mentioned in his
report on the work of the Paediatric Clinic for the year 1952, rheumatic fever in childhood
appears to be declining, even when measured over the post-war years alone. In his present
report, he indicates that restrictions of activity are no longer being imposed because of heart
murmurs of doubtful significance; and the combined effect of these two observations is that
disability of cardiac origin is now becoming very uncommon in childhood.
No cases of organic heart disease were recommended for heart hospitals schools but 3
boys and 1 girl with this condition were admitted to the day sptecial school during the year.
During the year 1953, the number of children treated as in-patients in special heart
schools was 4, (1 boy and 3 girls admitted to West Wickham by the Regional Hospital Board).
REPORT ON THE WORK OF THE PAEDIATRIC CLINIC
by
E.Hinden, M.D., M.R.C.P.
The work of the school consultative clinics has continued along the same lines as
previously, but at rather a reduced volume. The welcome decline in infant and childhood
mortality, has brought with it less morbidity also, and this is reflected in smaller
attendances at the clinics. Another factor making for fewer patients, is that the post-war
'bulge' in the birth-rate Is now well out of infancy, and has entered mid-school life, a
period when illness is much less. This is confirmed by experience in hospital, which shows
that the toddlers' wards are lightly filled, while pressure is heavy on beds for boys and
girls.
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