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97
There is found to be no difficulty in persuading parents to
seek advice when their attention is called to the condition, and
the London Hospital are always willing to carry out operative
treatment where necessary.
Mental Defects.
At routine inspection 9.32 per cent. boys and 12.65 per cent.
girls were classified as dull.
Four girls and four boys were also found to be mentally
defective whilst in attendance at school.
In my Annual Report for 1912 I drew the attention of the
Committee to the urgent need for provision of a special centre for
these cases of mental deficiency, and I regret to note that nothing
has been done in the way of providing a special school for such
cases.
Mental Deficiency Act, 1913, and Elementary Education Defective
and Epileptic Act, 1914.
The School Medical Officers have been appointed under this
Act, which makes it compulsory for the Education Authority to
ascertain the number of children in the area who are defective
within the meaning of the Act, between the ages of 7 and 16 years.
During last year 7 children were examined and certified as
mentally defective.
The following cases are at present boarded out in the Institutions
named :—
Royal Normal College for the Blind 1 boy.
Swiss Cottage Institution for the Blind 1 boy.
St. Elizabeth's Home for Epileptics,
Much Hadham 1 girl and 1 boy.
Ringworm.
This disease is much less common in our schools than a few
years ago, owing to the measures adopted for the discovery of the
disease and exclusion from school until entire absence of any
trace of the diseased hair, as proved by microscopical examination.
Only nine cases in boys and four in girls of Ringworm of the
head were discovered at the routine examinations during the year.
The number of children excluded for the affection was 101, as
compared with 165 in 1913 and 217 in 1912.