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In one child removal of Tonsils and Aednoids was considered
necessary in view of their unhealthy nature.
All these cases are now well.
10 cases still continue to have ear discharge. 6 of these cases
are probably due wholly to neglect. They are very young children
and attend the Clinic only occasionally and always have to be
fetched. Their ears are always in an extremely dirty condition.
The parents have been visited time and again, but improvement
only results for a short time. In 3 cases the perforation in the drum
head is small and there is insufficient drainage from the middle
ear. A secondary paracentesis would probably help in clearing
these cases, and in one of them removal of Tonsils and Adenoids
has also been suggested but the parents refused the operation. We
do not feel justified in suggesting further operative measures until
secondary paracentesis has been performed.
The last case is a small boy who is now nearly well. He is
a child whom we had difficulty in getting along to the Clinic.
On examination he was found to have a piece of paper firmly
wedged against the drum head causing irritation and infection.
On the whole these results are satisfactory considering the
short time that the scheme has been in operation. We were helped
of course, to a very large extent, by the fine summer. Th parent
of every child attending the Ear Clinic was asked to send the child
out into the sunshine as much as possible, and to see that the child
ran about, in order to improve the circulation. Many of them
responded by allowing sun bathing.
Our thanks are due to the teaching staff who have given us
every assistance. We realise how trying it must be to allow a child
to miss a class daily for a week in order to come to the Clinic, but
we believe that in treating these cases intensively from the beginning
we are preventing the chronic ear case which is a constant source
of offence in a classroom.
RETURN OF EXCEPTIONAL CHILDREN.
On Table 3 is given a return of all exceptional children in
the area. The figures in many instances are the same as those
given in last year's report, but the following notes give further
information on the cases.