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74
The increase in numbers treated under the Council's scheme, it will be seen
was 25,233. This very large increase, amounting to 10 per cent. on the previous
year's total, shows how greatly the provision is appreciated by the parents and
social workers. The new centres established during the year were:—
New centres.
(1) "The Downham," 397, Downham Way, opened 1st July, 1927,
provides for 660 minor ailments and 1,540 dental cases annually.
(2) "Eltham" Centre, 16, Park Place, Eltham, S.E.9, opened 28th
November, 1927, provides for 660 minor ailments and 1,540 dental cases
annually.
(3) Plumstead Centre, 236, Plumstead High Street, S.E.18. A new dental
centre for 1,320 cases annually, opened on 1st April, 1927.
(4) Victoria Hospital for Children.—Agreement made with the hospital
for the in-patient treatment of 440 cases per annum in respect of children
requiring operations for enlarged tonsils and adenoid growths. The arrangement
came into force as from 29th April, 1927.
(5) The Wick School Treatment Centre, Riseholme Street, Hackney Wick,
E.9.—Increased by the addition of an in-patient centre, began the operative
treatment of enlarged tonsils and adenoids on 2nd May, 1927. Provision is
made for 1,320 cases annually.
(6) The Poplar School Treatment Centre, 69, East India Dock Road, E.14.—
The new St. Margaret's Ward for the in-patient treatment of cases of enlarged
tonsils and adenoids was opened on 12th May, 1927, and provides facilities for
2,200 patients per annum.
Treatment of
the several
ailments.
In the following statement the ailments are dealt with separately m the order
suggested by the Board of Education.
(a) Minor ailments.—99,766 children received minor ailment treatment, an
increase of 10,057 on the number for 1926, and their attendances at the treatment
centres for this reason amounted to the huge total of 1,575,757. In pursuance of
the arrangement with the Metropolitan Asylums Board 115 children suffering from
ophthalmia or interstitial keratitis were sent to White Oak Residential School,
Swanley. Among these were 15 cases of trachoma and 13 cases of interstitial
keratitis.
(b) Ringworm.—The great reduction which has been brought about in the
number of children suffering from ringworm of the scalp is reflected in the figures
above given of the numbers treated, which were less than half of those for whom
provision had been made on the basis of previous years. As this result is due to
reduction in the numbers suffering, and not due to any failure to bring those suffering
to treatment, it has been found possible to cut down drastically the provision
necessary for the treatment of ringworm of the scalp during the ensuing year.
(c) Visual defects.—40,293 children were dealt with under the Council's scheme
for refraction, or 2,308 more than last year. It has been necessary to increase the
provision in this respect partly owing to the refusal of the hospitals to deal with
school children. Spectacles were prescribed in 28,726 cases and in 26,086 cases
they were obtained, a percentage of 91.0.
(d) Nasal and aural defects.—The total number of cases treated was 19,973, of
which 18,176 were treated under the Council's scheme. 13,046 children received
operative treatment at the treatment centres, and of these 9,504 were retained
after operation under the in-patient scheme at the nine centres where this arrangement
had been made. The extension of the scheme by the addition of four centres
was forecasted in the last annual report. These new centres all began work during
the year 1927. Further, an arrangement with the Mildmay Mission Hospital,
Bethnal Green, for the in-patient treatment of 10 cases a week, commenced on the
11th January 1928. Including this centre a summary of the existing provision is
given here.