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them that the care committees will reduce the charge by 50 per cent., or remit
it altogether.
The "slight-treatment" cases in the dental departments, in which the charge of
1s. is made, numbered, in 1934,15,297, an increase on the figures for 1933, when they
amounted to 13,393.
No charge is made for refraction of the eyes in the case of defective vision.
This is looked upon as an extension of medical inspection rather than as treatment.
The cost of spectacles however in the case of children attending elementary
schools (but not special schools where the Council bears the cost) falls upon the
parents, assisted where necessary from voluntary funds.
London
Central
Spectacles
Committee.
The care of the children in this respect is supervised by the voluntary London
Central Spectacles Committee, who, in 1932, pointed out that the figure for that
year showed a drop in the number of spectacles obtained ; this was disappointing,
but understandable in view of the hard times. The percentage, 88.6, of the spectacles
ordered, was the lowest since 1926, and it was hoped that the lost ground would be
regained in the succeeding year.
The falling off in 1932 led to redoubled efforts on the part of the care committees
in 1933, and the hope that the lost ground would be regained was amply fulfilled,
as in the latter year the percentage of children obtaining spectacles who needed
them was 92.9, the highest ever yet achieved ; this percentage was repeated in 1934.
In their 13th annual report the London Central Spectacles Committee state :—
This recovery of lost ground pays tribute to the sustained efforts of all concerned through
a period of very real difficulty. It must also be remembered that this percentage, excellent
though it is, may not represent the full total. The figure given is arrived at from information
available from all sources, but it is known that, in a certain number of cases, the fact that the
spectacles have actually been obtained is not reported, and the percentage would be higher
still if complete information had been received.
The work of following up the cases and the collection and repayment of loans falls upon
the care committees, and only those who have had experience can realise the weight of the
burden they have to shoulder.
The arrangement for co-operation with the Public Assistance Committees is now running
more smoothly, and there is less delay in obtaining spectacles for children whose parents are
in receipt of out-relief. Many reports from the districts record increased demands upon their
funds, but side by side with these are encouraging accounts of repayment by parents. It is
not possible to give the exact figure of the sum collected in each area, owing to the different
forms in which the reports are sent in, but the following are the figures available:—
Amount collected, £401 18s. 1d.
Repayments by parents, £329 1s. 8d.
These figures must not be taken as representing the full amounts, as several reports give
no details of their financial position, and in certain districts funds for spectacles are combined
with boots and clothing funds, so the actual sum devoted to spectacles can be only roughly
estimated.
Otorrhœa.
When medical inspection of school children commenced in London in 1906,
it was found that large numbers of children in the schools suffered from otorrhoea.
Most of these cases were in a very offensive condition and the smell in the classrooms
was often disgusting. The education authority had no power to provide treatment
and the children attended out-patients' departments at hospitals in a haphazard
fashion; in the intervals of attending the hospitals, the cases were left to the
mothers, who were quite incapable of keeping the ears in a wholesome condition.
It was clear that the hospitals' out-patients' departments were quite inadequate
to deal with this work. By the Education (Administrative Provisions) Act, of 1907,
local education authorities were given the power of providing treatment.
The Education Committee were very impressed with the need of supplementing
hospital out-patient treatment by some more appropriate scheme, and about 1909
the experiment was made of employing the district nurses to visit the homes of
children who were found in school to have otorrhoea.
It was found, however, that, although the ears were kept in a more hygienic
condition, the cost per case was considerable, and there was the objection that the
nurses' work was not under medical direction.
About 1913, minor ailment departments were introduced at school treatment
centres. At these the district nurses worked under medical direction; there was