View report page

81
ment in which the child is taught to do a simple routine toilet of
the meatus daily, and three times a week he visits the School Nurse
to ensure that our instructions are being carried out. All these
cases recovered with a healed drumhead and sound hearing.
There remain 13 cases of chronic ear disease and it is these
cases which constitute our most urgent problem. In many cases
the child could be cured if our advice were taken and suitable
treatment obtained, but these children are becoming deaf while
actually under our observation. All of them come from homes
where there is obvious neglect, all have been visited time and again
by the school nurses, and in most of the cases by the N.S.P.C.C.
Inspector but still nothing is done.
A few notes on the cases will perhaps make the situation
clear.
W.F. 13 years old. Otorrhoea for about 6 years. Referred to
Hospital nearly 3 years ago. Surgeon suggested daily
treatment at hospital for 3 weeks and would consider
operation at the end of that time. Cliild visited hospital
2 or 3 times, then " had no time to go." Parents visited
and child started again for 2 evenings. Constant visits
from Nurse but refused to attend. Child progressivelv
more deaf in both ears. N.S.P.C.C. in November. Double
mastoid operation performed, but deafness so marked that
it is doubtful whether she will be employable on leaving
school.
V.F. Sister of above. Intermittent ear discharge. Attends
Clinic only when fetched. Needs minor operation to ear
but parents refused to take her to hospital. N.S.P.C.C.
\isited in November. Attended hospital and is to be admitted.
Deafness progressive.
O.M. Intermittent ear discharge. Slight deafness. Parents refuse
hospital treatment. Admitted to Isolation hospital
with Scarlet fever. Ear dry now.
R- Chronic ear discharge. Needs tonsils and adenoids operation.
Parents visited twice, nothing done.
Chronic left otorrhoea. Generally neglected. Tonsils and
adenoids enlarged. Almost whole of drumhead digested
Visited twice, becoming deaf on left side.