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Act. During 1924, 481 cases were so referred, several children having two or more
defects. Of these cases 256 related to serious defects of vision, 185 to dental cases,
and 88 to other defects.
There has been almost a continuous increase in the proportion of children
dealt with under the Council's scheme compared with the total children receiving
treatment from all agencies public and private. 78 per cent. of those treated
during 1924 were dealt with under the Council's scheme. The similar percentages
for 1920, 1921, 1922 and 1923 were, respectively, 69.5, 72.8, 75.8 and 74.6.
105,879 cases were re-inspected for a first time and 50,702 cases, not discharged
after a first re-inspection, were brought forward for a second re-inspection.
Co-operation
with childwelfare
centres.
Wherever possible the school medical service co-operates with the maternity
and child welfare centres. In several districts the two organisations use the same
premises, and the use of Council's dental equipment has been allowed for mothers
and infants attending the infant welfare centres. The cards at some of the welfare
centres are transferred to the school, when the child reaches school age, so that
the school doctor may have the full previous history when he makes his first medical
examination.
Medical Treatment.
The number of hospitals and centres included in the Council's treatment
scheme at the end of 1924 was:—13 hospitals and 59 centres in addition to the
dental centre at Bushy Park Camp School. A total of 226,368 children received
treatment at these for the following defects:—Eye, 32,747; Ear, nose and throat,
12,980; Ringworm, 1,267; Minor ailments, 80,329; and Teeth, 99,045. These
totals are all in excess of the numbers treated during 1923, with the exception of
ringworm, the incidence of which is steadily declining.
(a) Minor Ailments. 80,329 children received treatment for minor ailments.
This was an increase of 2,380 on the number for 1923. These cases made 1,431,850
attendances. At the cleansing stations, 2,155 children were treated for scabies
and impetigo. Further facilities have been offered by the Metropolitan Asylums
Board for the treatment of children suffering from contagious diseases of the eye,
at their special residential school at White Oak, Swanley. During the year 258
children were sent to this school through the medium of the school medical service.
Of these 216 were suffering from trachoma.
(b) Visual defects. 32,747 children were dealt with under the Council's scheme
for refraction. Spectacles were prescribed in 23,573 cases, and in 21,338 cases
(90.5 per cent.) were obtained.
(c) Nasal and Aural defects. The total number of cases was 14,173, of which
12,980 were treated under the Council's scheme. In the three-years programme
of educational work authority is given for the provision of additional accommodation
for the in-patient treatment of children suffering from enlarged tonsils and
adenoids. Negotiations are now in progress for the establishment of additional
centres. The Council approved a scheme for reorganising the method of dealing
with discharging ears which will come into operation on 1st April, 1925. Under
this scheme five special inspection centres, one in each division, will be established,
to which children will be referred for expert advice by Dr. Wells and two half-time
assistants. At the five centres, suitable cases will be given ionisation treatment,
others will be referred to their minor ailment centre with directions for treatment,
and others will be referred to the Metropolitan Asylums Board's institutions for
mastoid operation.
Dr. Wells'
report on
discharging
ears.
Dr. A. G. Wells reports on the following-up and treatment of children suffering
from ear discharge during the past eighteen months. He has kept under observation,
with treatment, 1,406 children at the five special inspection centres. Of these
887 were discharged cured, giving a percentage of 63 per cent.; this is a better result