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101
enlarged as to urgently require removal by operation. Over
16.5 per cent. had considerably enlarged tonsils, while another
30 per cent. very slightly enlarged tonsils. Many of
the children have already undergone one operation, and
others who have had two or even three operations for the
same condition, but so long as the original cause is not
attended to, so long will frequent operations be required to
remedy the neglect.
Glands.—The glandular condition of the neck was
investigated with some care, for even the slightest enlargement.
Sub-maxillary, cervical and sub-clavicular glands
were respectively noted. 60 per cent. showed very slight or
moderate enlargement, 4 per cent. showed considerable enlargement,
and some 0.2 per cent. showed great enlargement.
The age distribution and the relation with other
conditions, such as teeth, nose and throat defects, of this 60
per cent. will be gone into elsewhere.
Mental Condition.—147 children examined were found
to be unusually backward, or mentally dull for their age.
This gives a percentage of 3.85 for boys and 4.19 for girls.
These children are a great drawback to the class they
attend, and often the despair of an anxious teacher. In
most cases, no doubt, this defect is the result of past neglect
of some physical bodily defect, such as adenoids, or of
unsatisfactory home conditions, such as uncleanliness,
inanition, etc. But a few other cases were found to be
mentally defective in a greater or less degree. There are,
I am aware, a fair number of cases who, though not hopeless
from an educational point of view, stay permanently
away from school. This suggests that altogether there may
be found a sufficient number of children who would gain
great benefit by attending a special class or school for such
defect.
Speech.—96 children, or 2.62 per cent., were found to
have a greater or less defect in their speech, but as most of