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Nervous Disease.—Nervous affections were again found to be on
the increase. Several cases of chorea so severe as to necessitate
immediate admission to hospital, came under observation. Habit spasm
and night-terrors were other manifestations frequently encountered.
The growing incidence of such nervous ailments is attributed to the stress
and excitement attendant upon present-day conditions of life.
Speech Defects.—The classes for speech defects were discontinued
in September, 1933, owing to an insufficiency of pupils, and cases in need
of treatment were sent to speech clinics at various hospitals. By the
end of 1937 the investigations of the school medical officers had brought
to light sufficient cases to warrant the formation of a speech training class
at the School for the Deaf.
Heart Disease and Rheumatism.—The number of children found
to be suffering from organic heart disease was 68. The cause of this
disease is in the majority of cases rheumatism. A large proportion of
these children attend the Committee's School for Physically Defective
Children at Vale Road.
Tuberculosis.—Eight children were diagnosed as definitely to be
suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis, in each case the diagnosis being
confirmed by X-ray and bacteriological investigation at the instance of
the Tuberculosis Officer for the area. Tuberculosis of glands, bones,
joints and other organs was noted in 11 further instances.
Hospital Treatment.—Such patients as cannot be adequately
treated at a school clinic are referred to private practitioners or to the
two local hospitals and various London hospitals. Of these the Hospital
for Sick Children, Great Ormond Street, is perhaps of the greatest assistance
to Tottenham children, and the willing co-operation of the medical staff
is a most valuable asset to the work of the education authority's medical
officers. A large number of children suffering from rheumatism and
resulting carditis are treated annually at the Rheumatic Clinic of this
hospital and subsequently transferred to the Lancing Heart Home which
is conducted under the auspices of the same hospital.