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9
in Parkstone, Dorset: a few girls also are sent away to holiday
homes by the Carp Committees; but these provisions touch only
the fringe of our necessities.
Unclcanliness.—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, 144 children passed through this cleansing station, and
made altogether 330 attendances.
Adenoids and Enlarged Tonsils.—Three to five children are
operated on every Saturday morning at the School Clinic for
these conditions. As in former Reports, 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 forty-eight 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,
although one case gave rise to considerable anxiety and
had to be removed to a Nursing Home.
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 141 children
with ear discharge attended on 1,420 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 564 children attended on 2,303 occasions
for examination and treatment.
Stammering.—A successful class has been established at
which children with defective speech are instructed in proper
methods of talking.