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tions as to the importance of suitable breathing exercises after
removal of tonsils and adenoids, and arrangements are made for
the district nurses and the school nurses to visit the cases for
some days after the operation.
(d) Tuberculosis.—As in previous years all children show ing
suspicious signs of pulmonary tuberculosis were reported to the
Tuberculosis Officer. In 1927 the number so reported was '29.
Arrangements exist whereby delicate children, especially those
coming from houses where cases of tuberculosis are known to live,
may be sent for varying periods to open-air residential schools
(see page 8).
(e) Skin disease.—Apart from impetigo, the only skin
diseases of any significance discovered during the year were
ringworm of the body (5 cases), ringworm of the scalp (4 cases)
and scabies (2 cases). Both the cases of scabies received treatment
at the Cleansing Station and all the cases of ringworm of
the scalp were submitted to X-ray treatment.
(f) External eye disease and defects of vision.—The principal
external eye diseases dealt with were squint (41 cases),
blepharitis—an inflammatory condition of the eye lids—(27 cases),
and conjunctivitis (13 cases). An endeavour has been made to
secure the attendance at the ophthalmic clinic of all children
under five years of age found at the Maternity and Child Welfare
Centres to be suffering from squint This condition can be
treated satisfactorily only if the sufferers receive adequate export
supervision at an early age.
One hundred and ten children, or 5 per cent., of those submitted
to routine inspection, were found to have defective vision.
The school oculist, who attends twice weekly at the Central
Clinic, examined 758 children and discovered a total of 465
defects, of which 374 were errors of refraction. Glasses were
prescribed in 309 cases, and by the end of the year had been
obtained in 217 cases, or 88 per cent. Sixty-four children received
treatment otherwise than under the Local Education Authority's
scheme.
(g) Ear disease and hearing.—Fourteen cases of deafness
were referred for treatment and 2 for observation. Only 29 cases
of ear discharge were found to require treatment, as compared
with 74 in 1926. This decline in the number of children suffering
from ear discharge appears to be due entirely to the careful
treatment given to such children by Dr. Friel at the weekly
aural clinic,