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nature of the affection from which they are suffering. There is accommodation
for 378 children on a site of 49 acres. During 1929 the children received on
behalf of the Council numbered 127, including 27 cases of trachoma, and 17
of interstitial keratitis.
(b) Ringworm.—Again there is a decline in the number of ringworm cases
treated, only 480 as against 516 in 1928. This decline is eloquent testimony to
the improvement in personal hygiene, and the efficacy of X-ray treatment,
when it is remembered that only twenty years ago the number of school
children absent from this cause at any one time averaged 2,000.
(c) Visual defects.—41,620 children were dealt with under the Council's
scheme for refraction and minor eye diseases, an increase of 636 on the previous
year's figures. Spectacles were prescribed in 29,212 instances and 26,993 children
obtained them, a percentage of 92.4, the highest yet recorded. In this connection
much good work is done by the London Central Spectacles Committee, a
voluntary association with 23 local branches throughout the county. The
parents are assisted by way of grant or loan through the school care committees
supported by the local branch of the Central Spectacles Committee. The funds
are raised locally by voluntary contributions, and the proceeds of local functions
inaugurated for the purpose. Many London schools are self-supporting, and of
the local branches of the Central Spectacles Association there is an average of
less than four annually needing help from the Central Fund.
(d) Nasal and aural defects.—During 1929 the children treated under the
scheme for these defects numbered 19,903 or 259 fewer than in the preceding
year. Of the 14,904 children receiving operative treatment 13,216 were detained
at the Centre for two nights as in-patients. There is still further need for inpatient
accommodation especially in the East End and the question of utilising
for the purpose vacant beds in some of the institutions to be transferred under
the provisions of the Local Government Act. 1929, is now under consideration.
Aural report
for the year
1929.
Dr. A. G.
Wells.
Dr. A. G. Wells has submitted the following report:—" The amount of work
done by the aural staff during the year under review is much about the same as
that done during 1928, the number of sessions given to the work being the same,
namely, 635. The following tables give particulars of the work done :—