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14
Dentist. It is a question, therefore, whether the Committee should
not consider at an early date, the appointment of a full-time
Dentist, and the provision of a more adequate Dental Clinic, to
secure that all the children in the schools are inspected by the
Dentist, and, where necessary, receive treatment. The far-reaching
effects of dental decay in physical deterioration make it plain that
expenditure on dental treatment is one of the wisest investments
for the School Medical and Public Health Authorities.
Charges for Medical Treatment.
On the 14th October, 1919, the Education Committee revised
the scale of charges for medical treatment, which is now as follows: —
Spectacles ... Free in cases considered necessitous.
Ordinary cases, 4/- per pair.
When special frames ordered by parents, full
cost.
Ringworm Free in cases considered necessitous.
Other elementary school cases, 2/6.
Cases from other schools, according to circumstances
of parents.
Dental 6d. per attendance at Clinic.
Minor Ailments Free.
The new scale has enabled the Department to dispense with
much vexatious enquiry into family circumstances in connection
with cases needing treatment, and it has made it much easier to
get the consent of parents to the treatment of their children.
Much time is also saved in the collection of the charges and in
book-keeping.
DEFECTIVE CHILDREN
During the year, further progress has been made in the
Classification of Mentally Subnormal Children detailed examinations
of fourteen having been made. Of these, the diagnoisis was
deferred in four; three were found to be dull or backward; and
eleven mentally deficient, nine being feeble-minded, one an
imbecile and one an idiot.