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270
There were 65 sessions at the Croydon General Hospital.
The work is done by a rota of 4 general medical practitioners
working in pairs, as surgeon and anaesthetist, for periods of three
months, and remunerated by the Education Committee. All other
expenses of the Clinic are also borne by the Committee.
The cases were examined at the Throat Clinic the week prior
to the operation.
336 children were operated upon, an increase of 133 on 1934.
The cases referred have all come within the terms of the three
definitions given below. All cases are kept in hospital for at least
one night after the operation unless the parent expressly desires
otherwise and is prepared to take all responsibility. During the
year no parent accepted this responsibility. If needful, children
are kept longer. All children are conveyed home by ambulance.
In all there were 275 non-attendances.
Of the 336 children operated on 140 attended the Remedial
Exercises Clinic for post-operative breathing exercises. This is a
very important complement to the operation. The percentage of
children operated on, who attended for exercises, was 41 per cent.
compared with 53 per cent. in 1934.
58 cases came to the knowledge of the department for whom
the parents had obtained treatment from another source; the
majority at a London hospital. In these cases the expenses are
defrayed by the parent and not by the Local Education Authority.
A few cases were operated upon in Mayday Hospital.
Only the following conditions are considered to warrant the
reference of a child for operation: —
(a) Tonsils which are enlarged and septic, especially if in
conjunction therewith the tonsillar glands are also
enlarged.
(b) Obstruction to breathing through one or both nostrils,
(c) The presence of mouth breathing.
The Inspection Clinic.
This is held on Wednesday and Saturday mornings. The
object of the Inspection Clinic is (a) to examine children referred
by parents or teachers for special examination; (b) children sent
bv school attendance officers for an opinion as to their fitness or