[Report 1934] / School Medical Officer of Health, Essex County Council.

  • Essex (England). County Council.
Date:
1934
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1934] / School Medical Officer of Health, Essex County Council. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    16/56 (page 14)
    In some schools a large number of children suffer from varying degrees of flat feet, most of them so slight as to cause little or no dis- ability. Steps are being taken by some Head Teachers to remedy this defect by instituting appropriate exercises and dances. (vii) Minor Ailment Clinics. These are well attended. Mothers, in the majority of cases, appear to appreciate the real use of the clinics, i.e., advice should be sought to prevent disease rather than to cure established defects. The skin disease which appears to give the most trouble is impetigo. This, as in the case of many other minor ailments, is due to or accen- tuated by dirt, neglect, and a low standard of living. The treatment by “ Elastoplast ” of Impetigo, septic sores and abrasions has been very successful, and especially so in the first-named condition. Home treatment of Scabies is very unsatisfactory, and entails prolonged absence from school. The provision of hospital beds for this condition would be of great advantage. An appreciable number of school children receive advice at local Child Welfare Centres, and this is of great advantage in outlying country districts where there is no actual session for school clinic purposes. (viii) Care Committees. Much appreciation is shown of the work of these Committees, who render invaluable help in the areas in which they are constituted. Their intimate knowledge of the home conditions of the children is of great assistance in assessing the supply of milk and other forms of extra nourishment. (ix) Co-operation in School Medical Work. General appreciation is expressed of the assistance obtained from Health Visitors, District Nurses and Head Teachers. Whilst much of the improvement in cloanline.ss of the hair must be credited to the Health Visitor, nevertheless, the most marked improve- ment takes place in tho.se schools where the Head Teachers take a personal interest in this matter and encourage the children and ])arents to remedy the defect. Co-operation in the school medical work with private practitioners and General Hospitals has been well maintained throughout the year and especially are we indebted to the two IMedical practitioners who have rendered invaluable help at the tonsils and adenoids clinic at the Seamen s Hospital, Tilbury.