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81
The contrast between the numbers found suffering with Skin affections
and External Eye Diseases at the Routine Medical Inspections, compared
with those specially presented by the Teachers, shows that only a
very few children are missed.
Tonsils and Adenoids.—Enlarged tonsils and adenoids were
found in 8.7 percent. of those examined. Of these 4.5 suffered
to an extent that operation was advised; the others were kept under
observation, and were dealt with subsequently as found necessary.
Of the 570 children so classified, and the 108 others found by Special
Examinations, 413 were operated upon—401 under the Local Education
Authority's Scheme and 12 elsewhere.
The Surgeons' classifications of these children were 326 operated
on for Tonsils and Adenoids, 74 for Adenoids, and one for Enlarged
Tonsils only.
Young children with Enlarged Tonsils have usually Adenoid tissue
so enlarged that removal is advisable, but this is not always apparent at
Medical Inspection.
There is a good deal of divergence of medical opinion as to the
necessity for the removal of Tonsils of school children, and many
parents consult me on this point before accepting the advice given
them.
In some cases postponement of the proposed operation is sufficient
to show that the parents' doubts are well founded, and unless there is
good and obvious reason I seldom advise the removal of Tonsils.
The improvement in general health which follows the operation in
the cases really needing it is so marked that some parents are anxious
to have their children so dealt with without the slightest reason.
Other parents, on the contrary, have such strong prejudices against
the operation that they require a good deal of persuasion to have it
carried out.
On the whole, I think very few children here suffering from pathologically
Enlarged Tonsils and Adenoid growths fail to have them
removed.
Tuberculosis.—Seldom are children found attending school
with definite well marked signs of Phthisis.
During the year four with no apparent symptoms, such as cough and
expectoration, were discovered, and 14 others were gravely suspect and
sent on to the Tuberculosis Officer.
Fifty-four other children had some suspicious signs of the disease,
and were kept under observation and re-examined by the School
Doctors at their subsequent visits.