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116
This advice by Mr. Gray must, of course, be subject to revision in the light of
fuller experience.
The Optician approved by the Authority carried out a number of minor
repairs to spectacles which had already been provided.
Cases of external eye disease, such as conjunctivitis and blepharitis, are
treated at the Authority's Minor Ailments Clinics. 447 cases were thus treated
during the year as compared with 338 during 1934.
During the year, there was one operation for squint which was carried out
by private arrangement at the Royal London Ophthalmic Hospital, Moorfields,
E.C.I.
(e) Nose and Throat Defects.—The treatment of nose and throat defects remains
as in previous years. Whereas, when Barking was much smaller our arrangements
with Hospitals for treatment were satisfactory, the time has come when, together
with the other Services of the Corporation, you may well entertain the appointment
of a Consultant in this branch of your work. This Consultant would not only
study the problem among school-children and carry out any necessary treatment,
but he would also be the Consultant at the Barking Hospital and would, amongst
toddlers, carry out the same work that he would for the children of school-age.
I am persuaded that the treatment of catarrh of the upper air passages will
materially benefit the children, and will lead to a diminution of those periods of
absence from school which are due to what is commonly known as catarrh.
In Group III of Table IV on page 155 will be found a complete analysis of the
ascertained results of the treatment of nose and throat defects.
(f) Ear Disease and Defective Hearing.—The treatment of ear disease and
defective hearing remains similar to last year, and what I have said for the further
advances of the treatment of nose and throat defects applies equally to the
treatment of ear disease and defective hearing. There can be little doubt that much
of the money spent on education does not reap its fullest reward owing to minor
degrees of deafness, and it is just these minor degrees which are most amenable to
treatment.
(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.