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essential necessities of preventative medicine—viz.,
continuity of supervision and treatment when that is
needed. It is thus possible to prevent or at least lessen
visual defects.
During 1938 the usual common maladies have been
treated. No one disease can be singled out by reason
of severity or frequency. In the treatment of eye
affections in infants and young children skilled nursing
attention is especially desirable, for in this group of
patients the great obstacle is fear and not so much
actual pain. At their daily visits to the clinics the
parents are shown the elementary details of treatment
but what is probably more important the child is reassured
and its co-operation obtained.
The other section concerns mothers during pregnancy
and afterwards for one year. This is frequently a
time when constant headaches are first complained of
and the question of eyestrain arises. It is our practice
to prescribe glasses only when some permanent fault
is found. It may be said that childbirth seldom adversely
affects the eyes.
Treatment of Children under 5 years of age at the
Orthoptic(Squint Training) Clinic.
No. of cases treated 8
No. of cases under treatment at end of year1
Treatment commenced but transferred to
Education Scheme on account of child
becoming of School Age3
No. of treatments given 11