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51
Medical Treatment.
practitioner. The excess of the cases examined over
those referred was due to arrears from the previous
year. Glasses were prescribed in 208 cases and supplied
in 295, the latter figure being augmented by 53 cases
in which broken glasses were replaced. Forms of
treatment other than by glasses were given in 8 cases,
and in 45 cases no treatment was considered necessary.
In 1921 there was a further extension of the oculist's
work, many more cases being dealt with than in the
previous year, which itself showed an increase over the
year before.
The suggestion of Dr. Richardson's predecessor
that there should be a systematic examination by the
method of retinoscopy of every child's eyes when it
enters school, has been fully considered and found
to be impracticable with the present staff. Without
a doubt the suggestion would be the ideal procedure,
since it would lead to the discovery, and correction of,
errors of refraction at the earliest period of the child's
school life and so prevent serious permanent disability.
It should therefore be kept in mind in any future
extension of school medical work when financial conditions
are more favourable.
(g) Ear Disease and Hearing.—All the 27 cases
of ear disease or deafness referred for treatment were
dealt with at the School Clinic. Some of these cases,
in which there is chronic otorrhoea, require long and
persistent treatment, and account for many attendances
at the Clinic.
(h) Dental Defects.—In Table IV. D.l it is shown
that no fewer than 4,190 children, out of an average
attendance at the elementary schools of 6,337, were