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No appreciable progress has been made since 1932. The total number of children
treated at the hospitals and centres was 144,416, compared with 144,383 during the
year 1935. Statistics relating to the work done will be found in table IV, group IV,
at the end of this report. Included in the total is the number of children, 4,234
from the 16 elementary schools allocated to the Eastman clinic and 30 scholarship
and central school cases dealt with at the Eastman clinic, as well as 507 cases
treated at the Berkshire-road school centre, to which reference has previously been
made. The special arrangements for the treatment of school children at the Eastman
clinic were begun in May, 1931. At that time, through the generosity of the late
Mr. George Eastman, of Rochester, New York, a large dental clinic had been erected
and equipped adjoining the Royal Free hospital, Gray's Inn-road, W.C. Sixtyeight
dental chairs and electric units (50 in the main treatment room, 12 in the
orthodontic department and 6 in other rooms) were ready for use. The question
then arose as to the supply of cases for treatment. So large an additional centre
provided the means of treating a considerable number of patients who were not
immediately forthcoming. The authorities of the clinic therefore applied to the
Council to be allowed to undertake the treatment of school children in the boroughs
of Finsbury, Holborn, Islington and St. Pancras. At that time all the schools in
the neighbourhood were being dealt with at centres which had already been provided
by the Council under the dental treatment scheme, although in some cases children
had to wait some time for appointments to attend the centres. Eventually, however,
it was arranged that the Eastman clinic should undertake the treatment of the children
in three schools—Cromer-street, Manchester-street and Prospect-terrace—provided
the Council was put to no expense in the matter. During 1932 the following 13
schools were also allocated to the clinic on the same conditions:—St. Alban's, St.
Peter's Italian, Barnsbury Central, Blundell-street, Gifford-street, Ring Cross,.
Westbourne-road, York-road, St. Pancras C.E., Thanet-street, Exmouth-street,
Netley-street, and Stanhope-street.
The clinic authorities assumed entire responsibility for the inspection, treatment
and following-up of the cases. At the commencement of the scheme it was the
practice to take a portable dental chair to each school and for dental nurses or