The physical examination and development of public school boys : based upon records of over 40,000 observations : a paper read before the Association on April 4th, 1899 / by Cecil Hawkins.

  • Hawkins, Cecil.
Date:
1900
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The physical examination and development of public school boys : based upon records of over 40,000 observations : a paper read before the Association on April 4th, 1899 / by Cecil Hawkins. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    VI. Sharp rise, followed by steady fall. [A steady rise or fall in type will, as a rule, be a sign of late or early maturity ; e.g., suppose a boy in Grade 4 to have practically completed his growth at 16, he will fall steadily, relatively to other boys, and become a man of less than medinni size.] VII. The blank half-year is explained by the entry “ whooping cough.” The drop in chest-girth is very obvious, and is persistent for two years. VIII. Here the absence is due to inflammation of the lungs.” The drop in height and weight is more obvious and persistent than that of chest-girth. IX. and X. a year’s absence, followed in one case by a decided deterioration of type, in the other l)y the reverse. No remark is given in either case to account for the absence, though the form of the record in each case would lead one to expect that a remark might be useful. I have no intention of generalising as to the effect of whooping cough or pneumonia in the above remarks, but they illustrate the manner in Avhich valuable generalisa- tions might be obtained by this method of keeping records, if we only had a sufficient number of carefully kept records in which all illnesses, or other known causes likely to influence development, were regularly entered in the column for remarks. It is important that such entries should be made independently of the effect produced, and not merely inserted to account for observed fluctuations, otherwise the analysis of observed effects might be very misleading. To ensure the general insertion of such remarks as are likely to lead to valuable results, it is essential that a list of the various points upon which information is required should be made out and disseminated by some central authority. I venture to suggest that the central authority which is best qualified to undertake this work is the Medical Officers of Schools Association.