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I should have noted for your information that Mr.
Dickson, the County Orthodontist, has paid several visits
and selected many cases for treatment both for alignment
of teeth and to cure mouth breathing. The design and
execution of the appliance received from the County
Laboratory as ordered by Mr Dickson have proved
excellent and it was encouraging that the Medical Officer
of Health found time to see many of these appliances
actually in the patients' mouths. Mouth breathing still
seems the chief cause of trouble with the orthodontic
cases. The patients themselves have co-operated well in
their rather trying ordeals of wearing oral appliances
which many times hold their mouths open.
I hold the view that much good work could be done
if, say a few lectures could be given to parents concerning
teeth and oral conditions generally as there can be
no doubt that much ignorance remains with parents
regarding these matters. In this connection I would like
to suggest that the Senior County Dental Officer be
approached to deliver these lectures.
Cleanliness Inspections.
(See Table V.)
During the year the School Nurses carried out
24,282 examinations of children in Schools and 190 were
found to have some infestation with vermin. In nearly
all cases, the condition was cleared up by parents who
were assisted, where necessary, by the School Nurses.
The infestation rate is commendably low and speaks well
for the standard of child care in the Borough.
Physical Education.
I am indebted to the Borough Education Officer for
the following report.
One of the most noticeable features in the physical
education of the Borough Schools is the increasing desire
of children to remove more clothing for physical education
lessons. The cap-and-muffler lesson is, happily, not
often seen.
This is due, I feel, to the greater understanding and
drive of the teaching staff, and to the greater knowledge
of the parents, who see the value of movement
unhampered by heavy clothes.
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