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17
May I this year again call your attention to the fact that
adequate facilities at either of the hospitals to which you send
cases do not exist for the over-night detention of all children after
operation. It is my considered opinion that all these cases should
be retained in hospital after this operation, which, after all, is by
no means a minor one.
It is estimated that this practice will treble the present cost
of this service—perhaps increase it four-fold; and, indeed, when
hospital services are put on a sound financial basis the increase in
the future will be even greater. I do, however, look upon this
change, involving whatever expenditure it does, as essential.
(«) Tuberculosis.—There were 14 cases of tuberculosis amongst
children of school age notified to the Medical Officer of Health
during the year. The total number of attendances by your school
children at the dispensary amounted to 377 during the year under
review. It has been my care, so far as possible, to examine children
away from the dispensary.
{j) Dental Defects.—The findings at medical inspection leave
no doubt that the work of your dental officers is making itself felt.
The dentition of children among the school-leaving group is
creditable compared with what it was even five or six years ago.
(k) Crippling Defects.—With reference to crippling defects, by
which I am referring to those children who are classified as being
subjects of deformity in Table 11, I would like to say that, although
the figures have increased, actually there is a very considerable
improvement, especially in the minor disabilities such as curvature
of the spine.
Although from a surgical standpoint the lesser degrees of
curvature of the spine must be looked upon as minor disabilities,
there is no doubt that actually this curvature of the spine is often
the cause of a loss of efficiency apparently out of proportion to the
actual physical disability, and that therefore a general improvement
in these minor disabilities means a general improvement in the
efficiency of your school services.