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80
The conditions found under these headings varied according to the
location of the schools.
Taking two extremes—the very good and the very bad—the above
were the findings.
It will be noticed that the Nutrition of a very large percentage of the
children was excellent, and none below normal.
Uncleanliness.—Physical uncleanliness of head or body, or both,
is met with in all schools.
The returns under this heading largely depend on the examiner's
views. The presence of nits in children's hair is evidence of prior
infestation with Pediculi, and although greater than one would wish,
this condition is becoming less than in former years.
The children suffering from uncleanliness are generally those of very
poor or feckless parents.
The causes are mainly due to economic conditions, which preclude
the mothers from giving their children that constant care and attention
which the well-to-do can afford.
Less than .4 percent. of the children inspected were found to have
lice, and only 2 percent. with nits in hair.
Taking the results of the systematic examinations of the School
Nurses—these are carried out without previous notice to the child or
the parent— it would appear that the presence of head lice varies from
6.7 percent. in the worst school to '7 in the best, and nits from 25 percent.
in the worst school to 14 in the best school.
Strange to say, one of the very cleanest schools, Girls and Infants, is
in a very poor neighbourhood, but for general cleanliness Maynard
Road School shows the best record for its Infants' Department—only
.7 percent. were found with Pediculi and T4 with Nits.
On page 36 a summary of the work of the School Nurses in this
direction will be found.
It will be noticed that some improvement has been effected as
compared with 1920.
Minor Ailments.—The number of children found suffering with
Minor Ailments on medical inspection is small as seen by the exclusions
under Article 53 B shown on page 28.
This is what might be expected, as the teachers send all such children
to the Clinic.
The findings on Table II. also indicate the keenness of the teachers
in presenting this class of child for Special Examination.