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87
work done by the dentists at a session is not diminished but even increased, although
the number of "cases" dealt with at a session is slightly reduced.
It is probable that the increase of the charge from 1s. to 2s. was a factor which
tended to delay the appearance of children for dental treatment at the earliest
stages. The Council during the year agreed that where "slight treatment only"
was given the charge should be reduced to 1s. This arrangement came into force
after the summer holidays and during the winter term the number of children
returned as "slight cases only" was 1,995.
The experiment was tried from May to September, 1926, of holding an evening
dental session once a fortnight at the Hoxton centre, for the convenience of mothers
who were unable to take their children for treatment during the day. In spite
of the efforts of the care committee workers in the district, the number of cases which
attended these sessions showed that there was no very great eagerness on the part
of the parents to avail themselves of the special facilities. In fact, the percentage
of appointments kept at these evening sessions was actually lower than the percentage
of those kept at the morning sessions. In the circumstances, it is not proposed
to arrange for anv further evening sessions to be held at the centre.
Hoxton
School Treatment
Centre
—evening
dental
session.
(e) The results of medical treatment—It is clear that every nation, which hopes
to maintain its place in the racial distribution of the world's peoples, must take an
active interest in the welfare of its children. As a means to this end, education is
a most potent factor, but education as ordinarily understood must be accompanied
by education in the laws of health. Medical inspection has done much in directing
attention to physical defect and wrong ways of living, but instruction in this manner
is of little service unless remedial measures can be readily obtained. This was
realised in the early days of inspection, and led to the growth of the medical treatment
scheme which has for aim the provision of adequate facilities for every child
needing treatment. When it is realised that annually more than a quarter of a
million children are treated, in the vast majority of cases with the active co-operation
of the parents, it will be seen that the scheme is an essential public service, and we
must press steadily forward to its completion. It is something gained that the
children of to-day are brighter, happier, and better in health than those of a former
generation. Moreover, it is an investment wherein the dividends are only deferied,
for undoubtedly the community will benefit by a healthier adult population with
the concomitant results of increased working ability and lessened time-wastage
due to the early breakdown of the human machine. The total cost of this great
service is inconsiderable, amounting to less than a three-half-penny rate or, in other
words, not as much as ten shillings per child per annum during the nine years of
school life, and it may be expected that there will be a return for this outlay in much
greater measure during each of the succeeding fifty vears of working life.
Dr. Kidner, Divisional Medical Officer, supervises this Remedial Clinic of the
Woolwich Invalid Children's Aid Association, which is subsidised by the Council
under the treatment arrangements. The following is his report for the
year:—
"For the whole of the year this Clinic has had the advantage of monthly visits
from Mr. Paul Bernard Roth, who acts as consultant in difficult cases attending the
remedial clinic, in addition to his complete charge of orthopaedic cases which formerly
were under hospital surgeons in Central London. The great advantage to Woolwich
children is that if any operative treatment is necessary Mr. Roth makes arrangements
to take the case into the Miller Hospital where he is orthopaedist, and uniformity
of treatment is thus secured. As an instance of the value of such a clinic of close cooperation
with the hospital may be mentioned the wryneck cases. Three children,
since Mr. Roth's appointment, have been operated upon for this condition, the scars
being almost undetectable, and have attended the clinic for massage and exercises to
complete the cure. Previously great difficulty was experienced,both inpersuading
Woolwich
Invalid
Children's
Aid
Association
Remedial
Clinic.