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Defects of Vision.—Of the 214 cases referred for refraction,
205 were dealt with at the School Clinic, and nine by private
practitioners or at the Eye Hospitals. Glasses were prescribed and
supplied at the School Clinic in 109 of these cases. All children
provided with glasses are kept under supervision, and their eyesight
is re-tested regularly. The School Nurses and teachers endeavour
as far as possible to see that the glasses provided are worn.
Ear Disease and Hearing.—Of 87 cases referred for treatment
67 were treated at the School Clinic. These were mostly cases
of otorrhoea, which demand long and persistent treatment, and
which accounted for as many as 1,130 daily treatments at the
School Clinic.
Dental Defects.—In a previous section remarks were made
regarding the large number of children, namely 78 per cent., who
possess sound teeth on leaving school. This good result is in large
measure to be attributed to the thorough dental treatment and
supervision which the children receive, and to the instruction
in the means of prevention of caries which is given to both parents
and children.
The policy adopted is that all children are dentally inspected
on being admitted to school, this inspection taking place within
a fortnight after the usual medical inspection of the same children.
In this way all children on reaching school age are offered dental
treatment, which the parents as a whole greatly appreciate and
gratefully accept. When once the child is treated a re-inspection
of the mouth takes place every year until he or she leaves school.
Table IV. Group IV. shows that 4,302 children, or a total
of 67.1 per cent, of those on the school register, were dentally
inspected during the year. Of these, 2,866 were found to require
treatment and 1,630 were actually treated at the School Clinic,
506 requiring subsequent tretment during the year The extractions
embraced 367 permanent and 2,147 temporary teeth. Gas
was administered for these extractions on 373 occasions. It has
been found the best policy in the long run to spend time over the
thorough cleansing of the mouth by the extraction of all carious