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is undue strain and it provides a gradual transition from the
family to the school environment." Certainly some provision
of this nature is urgently needed in the Borough of
Bexley.
A relatively stable position was maintained in the School
Dental Service by the staff consisting of two whole-time
Dental Surgeons and one part time officer, although the latter
resigned on the 31st August 1959. Since 1956 there has been
a steady increase in the number of schoolchildren inspected
by the dental officers. The figure of 5,581 for 1959 exceedes
the figure for 1958 by 1008. Similarly, the percentage of
children found to require treatment fell from 75% in 1958
to 64% in 1959 while the number of children offered treatment
was somewhat higher in 1959 than in 1958 and, further,
the number of children actually treated was greater in the
year under review. It is encouraging to note, from the report
of Mrs. Perkins L.D.S., that it will be possible in the near
future to inspect each school at least once a year and that
there is also an observed tendency for more parents to seek
treatment for their children through the General Dental Services
provided under the National Health Service Act, 1946.
The School Health Service, nevertheless, remains understaffed
to the extent of at least one whole-time dental surgeon
but the shortage of these officers is, of course, a national
problem and we are in fact more fortunate in our staffing
position in Bexley than are many Local Education Authority
areas in many parts of the country.
The statistics relating to immunisation against diphtheria,
smallpox, whooping-cough and poliomyelitis are contained
in the general section on the health of the Borough
on page 43. It cannot be too often pointed out that, although
there has been no case of diphtheria in the Borough for ten
years, the disease is still present in our midst and every now
and again there is a recrudescence in different parts of the
country. Parents should, therefore, realise their responsibility
to have their children immunised against this disease
in spite of the present favourable position and notwthstanding
the other immunisation procedures, for example B.C.G. and
poliomyelitis vaccinations, which have assumed a relatively
greater importance in recent years.
The School Health Service, with 50 years of achievement
behind it, has never been a static service and its techniques
have changed pari passu with advances in knowledge
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