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106
The present school dental service is not capable of coping with
the situation. Inspections and Dental Treatment are practically
limited to the age group 6-7 years, except in special cases when
the child's health is found to be affected directly as the result of
dental disease such as acute pyorrhoea alveolaris. In addition
septic conditions of the teeth are treated in children selected for
removal of tonsils or adenoids and occasionally in those suffering
from tuberculosis.
Affections of the Heart.
133 Children, or 1.6 per cent., were found to have permanently
damaged hearts, caused in many cases by attacks of acute or subacute
rheumatism. 152 Children, or 1.8 per cent., had temporary
and mild heart affections of a functional character associated with
anæmia or slight debility.
When such conditions are discovered teachers are at once
advised to modify or suspend the physical side of the child's
education.
526 Children, or 6.5 per cent., suffered from anæmia.
Affections of the Lung were found in 173 children, or 2.1 per cent.
Most were suffering from bronchitis or mild forms of bronchial
catarrh.
Tuberculosis.
78 Children, of .96 per cent., were found to be suffering from
tuberculous infection in one or the other of its manifestations.
Of these, 15 children were suffering from tuberculosis of the
lungs whilst 25 were suspected of having the disease in the lungs
in an early stage, including intestinal tuberculosis.
Apart from 1 case of spinal tuberculosis and 2 cases of tuberculous
hip joints, the remaining cases were tuberculous infection
of the neck and axillary glands. All cases have been referred to
the Assistant M.O.H. for Tuberculosis for treatment or disposal.
Nervous Diseases.
9 Children were found suffering from epilepsy and 19 from
chorea (St. Vitus' dance), a condition which is associated with
rheumatism, but sometimes follows scarlet fever, or occasionally
may be contracted in school from an affected child as result of
imitation.
Deformities.
62 Children were found deformed as a result of rickets contracted
in infancy.
296 Children suffered from marked degrees of spinal curvature.
40 Children were found crippled as a result of infantile
paralysis.