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95
The findings of routine inspections, with reference to dental defects (detailed
on page 137, and further commented upon by Mr. W. H. Foy in his report on
pages 122 to 124), cannot be used for comparative purposes except with reservations.
Thus there is some difficulty in using them to assess the improvement you have
made in recent years and equally the same difficulty for them to be used in assessing
the efficiency of your services, relative to those of other towns. Mr. W. H. Foy,
your Dental Surgeon, has reported adversely on the condition of the teeth of those
children who have come in large numbers from the London County Council Area,
and has cited the apparent lack of previous treatment as one of his reasons for the
large number of extractions which have to be undertaken in the case of these
children. Until, therefore, you have a more or less stable population these figures
are not very reliable in indicating the progress which you are undoubtedly making.
(h) Orthopaedic and Postural Defects.—111 children seen at routine medical
inspection presented varying degrees of Postural Defects such as round shoulders,
crooked spine, and bad stance. The more serious of this group were sent to the
Orthopaedic Surgeon under the Authority's scheme. In addition to this group of
cases, various orthopaædic conditions were seen which have existed from birth,
or have arisen following an illness such as Infantile Paralysis. All such cases were
seen by the Orthopaædic Surgeon, and where necessary, attendance at the Faircross
Special School was recommended.
In dealing with the figures which have to do with the findings of medical
inspections with reference to orthopaedic and postural defects, we must at the
present time discuss them with many reservations because so far as comparisons
from year to year are concerned they have lost much of their significance. Ten
years ago we dealt with the grosser cases of this nature. Today this work is
becoming more the detection and treatment of minor disabilities, although of
course there are still cases where major surgery is necessary. Although we applaud
the results of major surgery it must be remembered that in the majority of cases
the successful operation by the surgeon is an indication of some previous minor
disability which in this way or that has failed to have the necessary attention.
(i) Heart Disease and Rheumatism.—Out of upwards of four thousand children
who were examined at routine inspections 19 were found to be suffering from heart
disease sufficiently to require treatment, whilst 154 children had heart defects
requiring to be kept under observation.
The commonest cause of heart trouble among children is Rheumatic Fever.
Rheumatic Fever is as important as Scarlet Fever and has to be treated in very
much the same way. Unfortunately it is not attended by any rash. Large numbers
of these cases do not come under medical attention and very many of them are
difficult to diagnose whilst yet the disease is in an early stage.