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tonsils. Arrangements have now been made for treatment to be
carried out at a hospital, the Committee being- responsible for the
cost in necessitous cases.
Deafness.
This existed in 83 boys and 95 girls, and was most frequently
associated with discharging ears, adenoids, and enlarged
tonsils. The treatment of ear cases remains as one of the least
satisfactory aspects of the school medical service, and the tendency
of parents to regard otorrhoea as of little importance leads
to a serious loss of efficiency in school children and in many
cases determines the production of the unfit man and woman.
Diseases of the ear are, unfortunately, very often of a chronic
nature requiring constant skilled attention, which few parents are
able to provide. In view of the above, therefore, it is hoped that
before long the Committee will see their way to arrange for the
services of an aurist either at one of the adjacent hospitals or at
the School Clinic.
Heart and Circulation.
Heart affections were present in 89 boys and G7 girls, percentages
of 2'G and 2.3 respectively.
Disease of the Lungs.
Affections of the lungs were present in 142 boys and 114
girls. Most of these were simple catarrhs or bronchitis, but in
many cases there arc grounds for suspecting latent tubercular infection.
Such cases are classed as pre-tubercular and kept
under supervision. It is this class—the pre-tubercular child—for
which there such an urgent demand for an open-air school. It
is hoped that in the near future better provision will be made for
such children. Meantime tubercular or pre-tubercular children
arc referred to Wakefield Street Dispensary, but more specialized
treatment is necessary.
Defective Mental Condition.
Out of 3,272 children medically inspected during 1919, 462
were found to be below the average in intelligence, 443 being
classed as dull, and 19 as defective. As formerly, special cases
for backward or dull children have been held at Sandringham