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As a result cf this scheme the percentage of acceptances rose
from 51.2 in 1938 to 59.9 this year. The secondary schools
continued to receive complete annual inspection and treatment.
Nervous Disease. Although a large number of nervous diseases
were dealt with they were mostly of a mild but somewhat troublesome
nature such as somnabulism, nervousness, and night terrors. These
cases generally yielded to treatment.by a change of environment and
routine at the Committee's Open.Air School or at a Convalescent Home.
Speech Defects. The classes for speech defects at the School
for the Deal' were continued until this school was transferred to
Kessingland Camp.
Heart Disease and Rheumatism. Mild cases of rheumatism
were dealt with at the school clinics where also many children
suffering from heart affections were kept under constant observation;
Treatment for more severe cases has been available by the co.operation
of various hospitals and in particular the Hospital for Sick
Children, Great Ormond Street, where a number of Tottenham children
have been'treated as in.patient and subsequently transferred to
Lancing Heart Home for a prolonged stay.
Tuberculosis. Scholars suspected to be suffering from pulomary
tuberculosis were referred to the Tuberculosis Officer for examination
and report Surgical tuberculosis was dealt with at the Orthopaedic
Clinic
Hospital Treatment. The majority of children requiring
hospital treatment have attended the Prince of Wales's General
Hospital, North Middlesex Hospital, and Hospital for Sick Children
Great Ormond Street. There is close co.operation between most of
the London Hospitals and the School Medical Department thus ensuring
adequate treatment and observation of all patients.
FOLLOWING . UP.
No material changes have been effected in the methods adopted
to ensure that all children suffering from defects receive treatment.
INFECTIOUS DISEASES.
Considerable loss of school attendance annually occurs, especially
in the infants' departments, owing to measles, whooping cough, chicken.
pox and mumps, and in order to keep.a check upon the incidence of these
conditions in school children, an arrangement exists hy which the head
teachers are able to keep the Health Department informed of the weekly
absences due to infectious diseases. The information supplied by the
head teachers includes the names and addresses of the children, thus
enabling the nursing staff to visit the homes. When it is considered
advisable or necessaey, a general survey is made of all the scholars
attending particular classes with a view to discovering newly attacked
or missed' cases.
Comparative figures cf infectious disease occuring during the
last three years are not given:owing to the dislocation of work
during 1939 as a result of the outbreak of war and the evacuation of
school children..
Diphtheria. Immunisation. 1080 school children were immunised
ahainst diphtheria and 5,125 attendances were made at the immunisation
clinics. Details concerning diphtheria immunisation are included
in the Medical Officer of Health's report.
Microscopical Examinations. Two specimens cf hairs were examined,
one cf which was found to contain ringworm spores.
Bacteriological Examinations. The results of examinations of throa
and nose swabs for diphtheria will be found in the Health section of
the report.