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29
Cases referred
to the
N.S.P.C.C.
During 1937, 416 children, involving 508 defects, were reported to the National
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children; these included 266 dental
defects, 98 vision cases, 53 nose and throat affections and 9 cases of ear disease
or deafness.
Aural
disease and
the acute
infections
The influence of the acute infectious fevers on the production of aural disease
is shown by the high proportion of children who are deaf and partially deaf, in whom
the trouble can be traced originally to an attack of measles or scarlet fever. One
of the most important means therefore of preventing deafness and hardness of
hearing is the after.care of children when they are discharged from the fever
hospitals.
An arrangement has been made whereby notification is received of children
who have suffered from ear discharge while in a fever hospital. The names of
infants under school age are sent to the borough medical officers of health for the
necessary action, while children of school age are examined by the school doctors
at intervals of six months, until at two consecutive examinations no symptoms of
the disease are found. The number of children reported was 452, of whom 11 were
referred to Borough Councils or other local authorities. Of the children followed
up at school, 29 were found on the first examination to have otorrhœa, and of those
seen at second examinations the condition was found in 20 children.
Spectacles
Spectacles for children in the elementary schools are not provided from the
rates, but parents are assisted by the voluntary London Central Spectacles Committee.
In 1937, 26,263 children were prescribed spectacles at the treatment centres and
hospitals, and of these 24,958 or 95 per cent. obtained them.
History
Medical and dental treatment
The Council's arrangements for the medical treatment of school children began
in January, 1910, when arrangements were made with 7 hospitals for the treatment
of some 12,700 children, and the hospital authorities accepted responsiblity for the
treatment undertaken.
The first school treatment centre under the aegis of a local committee of medical
practitioners, was opened in July, 1910, at Hampstead, on the premises of the
Kilburn provident medical institute. This was followed by a second at Norwood
iu September of that year, and a third in Wandsworth in January, 1911. In 1912,
the first of the centres to be organised by local voluntary committees was opened,
and during that year 9 such centres were opened, the total number of children
treated during the year being 37,446.
In 1913 there were 12 hospitals and 17 centres providing for the treatment of
73,000 children a year. Despite the difficulties created by reason of the Great War,
1914.1918, the scheme continued to be developed; and by the year 1919, there were
11 hospitals and 43 centres in operation. During that year the actual number of
children treated was 169,200. By the end of 1925, there were 13 hospitals and 60
centres in addition to the dental centre established at the King's Canadian open.
air school at Bushy Park, providing, in all, facilities for the treatment of 231,352
children a year. From this time steady progress in the provision of centres has been
made, as shown in the following table:—

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