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16
Medical Treatment.

In order to provide the necessary elasticity in the arrangements a certain amount
of money is allotted for additional services which can be applied to meet emergencies
wherever they arise. Thus the number of children actually treated amounted to
26,000 more than were provided for in fixed contracts.
Eye defects.
During the year 43,579 children with eye detects were treated under the Councils
scheme. This represents an increase of 1,959 over the year 1929. The majority of
the cases were referred for refraction and during the year spectacles were prescribed
in 30,087 cases; in 27,505 of these cases spectacles were obtained, a percentage
of 91.4.
Ringworm.
The incidence of ringworm in the schools still continues to decline. The
number of cases requiring treatment by X.rays during 1930 was only 358 compared
with 480 in 1929. It has been thus possible to reduce still further the provision
necessary for this form of treatment which formerly required the maintenance of a
large number of centres.
Minor ailments.
For minor ailments 101,298 children received daily nursing treatment. This is
an increase of 3,275 on the number dealt with during 1929.
Ear, nose
and throat
defects.
The number of children treated during the year 1930 in the throat departments
of the centres was slightly less than during the preceding year, viz., 19,760 compared
with 19,903. All cases under the Council's scheme requiring operations for enlarged
tonsils and adenoids are now dealt with as in.patients, being kept at the centres or
hospitals for two nights after the operation. During the year under review 16,215
children received operative treatment, an increase of 1,311 over the year 1929. It
has been possible to provide adequate accommodation for in.patient treatment
owing to the transference to the Council of certain general hospitals under the provisions
of the Local Government Act, 1929. Provisional arrangements have been made
at the Bethnal Green Hospital, the Norwood Children's Hospital and the Mile End
Hospital. It is the experience at the general hospitals that more beds are available
for this type of work in the summer months than in the winter. At the same time it
is recognised that tonsillectomy is better undertaken in the summer than the winter.
Endeavours are, therefore, being made to utilize as fully as possible the accommodation
available at these hospitals during the summer months for throat operations
on school children.
Ionisation.
The treatment of discharging ears by ionisation, and other methods, at special
consultation centres has been further increased. One additional centre was
established during the year raising the total number to nine.
Mr. A. G.
Wells' report
on treatment
of aural
disease.
Mr. A. G. Wells has submitted the lollowing report:—
"This report comprises the work done by the special aural staff at present
numbering seven (one whole- and six part-time), with their co-workers, the nurses and
organizers at the "Ionisation" centres; a record and analysis of operations performed
at the Downs Hospital, Sutton, on cases recommended for admission to the