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65.
This will in most cases cause arrest of the disease
and many of these children are afterwards sent on to
Special Schools, viz.: to those tor the Physically
Defective if any deformity in spine or joints remains;
or to the Open-air School for further supervision under
the best circumstances to prevent a possible breakdown
in lung or gland cases.
The Open-air School is situated in Broomhouse Lane
and has accommodation for about sixty boys and girls;
the pupils include such ex-sanatorium cases and others
whose condition has never been sufficiently serious to
necessitate their being sent away or whose parents are
unwilling to allow them to leave home. The Open-air
School children are under the constant supervision of
one of the Dispensary Nurses and the Tuberculosis Officer
for the Borough makes a weekly inspection at which a
number of children are examined in rotation.
Classes are held under open-air conditions, where
in fine weather, accommodation is provided in two specially
constructed shelters built on the playground; whilst
in severe weather the pupils are taught in various roomy
class-rooms in the main building adjoining.
The daily routine is divided into special hours of
work, rest and exercise under the close supervision of
the head-mistress, who also controls the diet; and each
child has an allowance of milk during the morning and a
good, well-cooked meal in the middle of the day.
Under this regime, very satisfactory results are
obtained; and during the past year the children have
made good progress (in some cases very marked) with
but very few exceptions.
During 19'28, six children were referred to the
Victoria Hospital for Children, Tite Street, Chelsea, for
treatment by artificial Sunlight (Ultra-Violet Rays),
sixty-seven attendances for this purpose being made.
Whilst some children appear to gain benefit from this
irradiation, others shew no special indication of improvement.