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10
A few children suffering from malnutrition which was
associated with illness were sent to convalescent homes during
the year.
Uncleanlincss.—The Education Committee has provided an
excellent cleansing station where verminous and unclean children
can be cleansed and their clothes can be sterilised. During the
year 121 children passed through this cleansing station, and
made altogether 142 attendances.
Adenoids and Enlarged Tonsils.—Four children are operated
on every Saturday morning at the School Clinic for these conditions.
At the end of the year there were 58 children waiting
for this operation. I wish again to put on record that, although
the arrangements made for these operations at the Clinic are
as perfect as possible the Clinic itself is no place in which to
perform this operation, of which the results are sometimes very
serious. It would be better if all children who need this operation
could be admitted into hospital and kept there for fortyeight
hours in order to recover from the effects. As this does
not appear to be at present a practicable arrangement we continue
to perform these operations at the School Clinic and take
every possible precaution to minimise danger to the children.
I am glad to be able to report that during the year under review
all the operations were safely performed.
Defective Hearing.—Cases of chronic otorrhcea are treated at
the School Clinic, and these take up a large part of the time of
the school nurse. During the year under review 106 children
with ear discharge attended on 1,275 occasions at the Clinic.
Defective Vision.—Children who are found to be suffering
from defective vision are treated at the School Clinic and
examined by the Assistant School Medical Officer, who prescribes
for them the necessary glasses and gives what other
treatment is necessary. This arrangement has worked satisfactorily
during the year, and 314 children attended on 1,613
occasions for examination and treatment.