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schools. This organisation, too, has arranged for the supply of surgical
instruments to children other than those coming under the care of the
Education Committee's orthopaedic surgeon.
The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children
has, as in former years, proved most helpful in ensuring treatment and
cleanliness in those cases where parents failed to act on the advice given
by members of the school medical staff.
I am indebted to Mr. J. P. Martin, Inspector of the National Society
for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, for the following information:—
145 new cases in the Tottenham area were investigated during the
period 1st January to the 31st December, 1938.
These cases involved the welfare of 217 children of school age, of
which 117 were boys and 100 were girls.
In addition to the above number of cases there were 164 under
5 years of age, of which 92 were boys and 72 were girls, making a grand
total of 381 children.
These cases were brought to the notice of the Society owing to:—
1. Dirty homes, inadequate bedding, etc.
2. Parents failing to provide the necessities of life for their
children through drink or gambling.
3. Parents failing to obtain medical treatment for various
physical defects.
4. Parents in poor circumstances failing to take advantage of
the Local Health Services. This is often through apathy
on the part of the parents.
5. Children being left alone locked up in the house at night.
601 supervisory visits were made to parents or guardians. In
addition, there were 100 miscellaneous visits of enquiry in connection
with the investigations made.