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126 Open-Air Treatment.
The Education Committee in 1919 entered into an
arrangement with the Royal Dental Hospital for the
treatment of school children presenting dental abnormalities
which could not be dealt with at the School
Clinic. These abnormalities consist of irregular dentures,
which interfere with proper mastication, which
tend to early caries and sometimes bring about an
abnormal facial expression. They are susceptible to
orthodontic treatment, which is sometimes both
lengthy and difficult. Twenty cases were put forward
for treatment during the year, but as most of them did
not receive treatment until the end of the year reports
on all the cases cannot be given. At the end of December
four had completed treatment, with, according to Mr.
Cohen, very satisfactory results ; the others were still
under treatment.
(i) Crippling Defects and Orthopaedics.—The
treatment of crippling defects has already been considered
in a previous section when considering the
extent of crippling in school children in Ealing and
nothing need be added here.
Open-Air Education.
The provision of an open-air school for physically
defective, anaemic, and badly nourished children was
discussed by the Education Committee, and a Special
Sub-Committee was appointed to consider the question
and to recommend a suitable site. Two sites, the only
suitable sites available, were particularly considered,
but the high purchase prices of both caused the whole
question to be postponed. The Education Committee
have always been sympathetic towards the proposal to
provide an open-air school, and there is no doubt that
whenever economic conditions become normal, and the