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Epilepsy and Cerebral Palsy.
A. Epilepsy.
1. Children.
The arrangements whereby all children between the ages of 2 years and 16 years
found to be suffering from epilepsy are referred to the School Health Service for examination
and any necessary action remained unchanged. When the need for special educational
treatment arises, arrangements are made for the child's admission to either a special day
or residential school if the recommendations cannot be met in the ordinary day school.
One such case was dealt with during the year. The number of children known to be suffering
from the defect and their placing is as followsj-
1. In attendance at ordinary schools 53
2. In attendance at day special schools 1
3. In attendance at residential special
schools 3
Total: 57
2. Adults.
It is impossible at present to ascertain the true Incidence of epilepsy in the
community, since there are no adequate means of effecting a complete registration. In
the majority of such cases, the epilepsy is of a minor degree, adequately controlled by
medication and the individual concerned is following normal employment with little, if
any, limitation in his activities.
The more severe eases usually come to notice because they are in need of special
care, and admission to an epileptic colony or other form of residential accommodation is
arranged by the Welfare Department under Part III of the National Assistance Act, 1948.
During the year, I such case was admitted to Chalfont Epileptic Colony.
The number of West Ham cases of epilepsy in residential care at the end of the
year was 14, these cases being accommodated as followss-
Porest House 5
Chalfont Epileptic Colony 4
StoElizabeth's Home for Epileptics, Much Hadham 1
Llngfield Epileptic Colony 1
Langho Epileptic Colony 1
Wessex House 2
In some further cases known to this department the epilepsy is associated with
a degree of mental deficiency. If institutional care is not required such cases may be
Placed under supervision in accordance with the provisions of the Mental Deficiency Acts.
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