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Parental objection to medical inspection has become a thing of the
past. On the contrary, applications for examination are often made
when it is known that a doctor is at a school engaged in carrying out
routine inspections.
Special.—Besides the routine age-groups, 23,069 special cases were
examined, including defective children in their last term at school.
Information concerning these children is transmitted to the Juvenile
Employment and Advisory Committee to assist this body in securing
suitable employment for children who are about to enter the labour
market.
FINDINGS AND TREATMENT OF MEDICAL INSPECTION.
Nutrition.—Nutrition Clinics have been held regularly throughout
the year on two sessions during each week. 1,452 children deemed to
require extra nourishment have been referred to these clinics by the
school medical officers, head teachers, and school nurses. 2,110 attendances
have been made and on each occasion the scholars have been
weighed and measured and particulars concerning their nutritional state,
previous health, and home circumstances have been recorded. Their
diet has been investigated and the following facts have been ascertained:—
A hot mid-day meal consisting of meat and fresh vegetables is almost
invariably provided. A sweet course is rare, owing to the extra cost
involved. Milk is usually given with porridge and other cereal breakfast
foods, or in the form of cocoa, but fresh fruit is lacking in the home
dietary.
Feeding centres have been visited by the Medical Officers on 14
occasions and menus and dietaries have been submitted to the School
Medical Officer throughout the year.
Children who, during the course of routine medical inspection, were
found to be suffering from malnutrition numbered 663, or 12.3 per cent.
of the total inspected. Of these, 553, or 10.3 per cent., came under
category C, and 110, or 2.0 per cent., under category D.
Uncleanliness.—The total number of examinations of children at
the cleanliness surveys in the schools conducted by the school nurses