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102
(g) Dental Defects.— The treatment of dental defects is dealt with specially in a
part of this report prepared by Mr. Foy, the Dental Surgeon.
It is with regret I find myself constrained to call your attention to the fact that
a large number of the appointments made by us are not kept. It is difficult to
maintain any economic system unless the parents of children make sure they do
attend at the proper time. All these cases which have been asked to attend have
given their consent and surely it is not too much to ask that having given their
consent, they will keep the appointments.
(h) Orthopcedic and Postural Defects.— Mr. B. Whitchurch Howell, Orthopaedic
Surgeon, attends at the Orthopedic Clinic once a month and you have decided to
employ a whole-time Masseuse instead of a part-time one. You have arrangements
for children requiring surgical treatment to be received in Brookfield Hospital and
other hospitals where orthopaedic surgery is carried out. The time has come
when Joint Authorities should consider the future of Brookfield Orthopedic
Hospital.
A summary of the work done appears on pages 118-121, an analysis being
given under Group IV of Table IV on page 136.
(i) Heart Disease and Rheumatism.— The treatment of heart disease and
rheumatism is a very difficult problem; cases of long standing are easy to diagnose
and when necessary you send such cases away to special institutions providing the
necessary accommodation, but the diagnosis of acute rheumatism is fraught with
many difficulties and its treatment is by no means so easy. I am considering this
problem in another aspect from the standpoint of infection and hospitalisation.
(j) Tuberculosis.—The appropriate Authority for the treatment of Tuberculosis
is the Essex County Council. Their Tuberculosis Officer attends at the Chest
Clinic, Linton Road, Barking.
(k) Other Defects and Diseases.—As you will see from the tables, very full use
is made of the Clinics you have established and children who present themselves,
who do not come within their purview, are referred to local practitioners or a
suitable hospital out-patient department.
Ultra Violet Light Treatment.—The use of ultra-violet light for medicinal
purposes has been carried out to a limited extent at the Faircross Clinic. During
1934, fifteen children were dealt with and 317 treatments given as against the 750
treatments given to 25 children last year. During 1934 you had only a part-time
nurse at the Faircross Clinic and an old tungsten arc lamp and next year I shall report
to you how the new mercury vapour lamp and the appointment of a full-time
nurse has enabled you to undertake ultra-violet light treatment more seriously than
heretofore.