View report page

55
arrived at the age of 12 years. All other cases seen for whatever purpose are
"specials." These latter and the routine children if seen by any member of
the medical staff are re-inspections. Thus cases referred to the Eye Specialist
or to myself at the Town Hall are counted as re-inspections.
The re-inspections do not give the total number of children attending the
clinic, but only those seen and examined by a doctor. Total attendances at all
the clinics for the year were 38,699.
Table II.—The only point about this table is that children under
observation may on re-inspection be found worse, and treatment is then
necessary.
Table III gives details of physically and defective children in the
District. The differentiation this year between infectious and non-infectious
tuberculosis in children is new.
With non-pulmonary tuberculosis, the distinction is easy, the presence or
otherwise of a discharging sinus or sore. For pulmonary tuberculosis the
presence or otherwise of the bacillus in the sputum has been adopted as the
criterion.
Table IV.—This table does not necessarily correspond to the number
of defects in Table II. Firstly, some defects were existing from the previous
year; conversely, some of the defects found towards the end of the year have
not been treated yet; secondly, some of the "observation" cases of Table II
have, on re-inspection, required treatment.
Group IV requires explanation. For purposes of dental inspection, the
routine age group is those under seven years, and those over that age who have
been treated by him previously. It includes all children under seven years who,
on examination by Dr. Strong, or myself, have been referred to the Dentist for
treatment.