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77
12 cases complaining of deafness.
1 case was helped by removal of unhealthy adenoid tissue,
i was due to wax and removal cured the condition, and the
tfiruining 10 were due to bad head colds or to unhealthy post-nasal
Spaces, but appropriate treatment 'was undertaken and improvement
reported.
13 cases of wax.
It is encouraging that 6 of these cases had had otorrhoea in
past and when a waxy secretion was noted coming from the ear,
parents brought the children at once to the Clinic for examination
and advice. In all 6 cases the ear drums were intact and the
secretion was only waxy.
4 other cases were seen at the Clinic for various other ear
condditions. 1 was suffering from external otitis, 1 had a boil in
the ear and 2 had enlarged post-auricular glands.
The Ear Clinic has been run on similar lines to last year.
Each case is seen once each school day by either the medical officer
or the nurse and appropriate treatment undertaken. Where possible
the parent of the child is also seen and instructions and demonstrations
given as to the home care necessary to effect a cure. In the
majority of cases, co-operation in the home is obtained and the
results are correspondingly gratifying, but sometimes it happens
that on Monday it is all too evident that nothing whatever has been
done since the ear was treated on Friday. Every endeavour is made
to secure the co-operation of the parent, and where the child is old
enough, instructions are given to him or her how to treat the ear
personally. It is not always deliberate neglect on the part of the
parents—often it is the fear of doing some damage to the ear which
holds their hands. In such cases a demonstration is usually all
that is needed to encourage them to attend to the ear in an adequate
manner.
The high proportion of cases in 1937 which attended the Ear
Clinic before the onset of otorrhoea and where ear discharge never
developed is some proof that the Clinic is being sought for advice
more widely. Parents and teachers are encouraged to send the
children on the first complaint of ear trouble or the first sign of
disease so that treatment can be instituted without loss of time.
A cure can be anticipated with more certainty if the diseased condition
of the ear has not been in existence very long. In one or
two cases, more rapid improvement has followed treatment of the
patient on general lines as well as local treatment to the ear. A