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110
Out of 3,488 children referred for treatment, the parents or
guardians of only 1,223, or 35 per cent., made use of the opportunity
offered.
A re-organization of the work of the School Nurses has recently
been carried out, so that following-up at the homes of children with
defective teeth has been improved, and it is hoped thereby to ensure a
larger attendance of children at the Dental Clinic.
Crippling Defects and Orthopccdics.
As in previous yars the treatment by remedial exercises of
children suffering from spitial curvature was carried out bv the
Organizer of Physical Training. The class was held on four afternoons
weekly. The following table gives an account of the work done by
Miss Appleton at this clinic:—
Number of children treated during the year 48
„ discharged as not requiring further treatment 17
,, discharged for other reasons, e.g., tor hospital
treatment, over school age, etc. 18
,, attending on December 31st, 1920 7
Total number of attendances during 1920 1380
Only the more severe cases of spinal curvature are treated at this
clinic, but classes have now been formed at Whitehorse Road
School and St. Andrew's School in which children suffering from
milder degrees of curvature will be given daily remedial treatment
under the direction of two specially selected lady teachers, and under
the supervision of the Medical Officer and the Supervisor of Physical
Training.
With the appointment of Miss Cooke as masseuse and the
establishment of breathing exercise classes the accommodation in the
Treatment Centre at 228, London Road, became inadequate, and consequently
in September the Spinal Remedial Class was transferred to
larger premises at the Central Polytechnic. Here in a large room it is
possible for remedial exercises and massage to be carried out concurrently.
The breathing exercise classes are held in the early part of
the morning so as not to interfere with the work of the other two
clinics.
During the last four months of the year 19 cases were treated by
massage:—
Paralysis (infantile and birth palsies) 9
Spastic conditions 2
Scoliosis 7
Talipes 1
Total 19
Certain of these cases also received remedial exercises, which
were carried out under the supervision of Miss Cooke. These children
were still receiving treatment at the end of the year, and in many cases
marked improvement was noted.
A summary of the treatment of the defects as shown in Tables IV.
(A, B, C & D) is given in Table V. Appendix A: whilst Table VI.,
Appendix A, supplies a summary relating to children medically
inspected at the routine inspections, 1920.