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temporary teeth in the first instance rather than to take them out
gradually. The children start out with clean and sound mouths
which they are encouraged to keep sound.
Fillings were applied to 1,559 permanent teeth, which means
that there were on the average 9.1 fillings a session.
Six cases of dental deformity were referred to the Royal
Dental Hospital for special treatment under the arrangements
made between the Local Education Authority and the Hospital.
Crippling Defects and Orthopaedics.—The action taken
to discover crippled children in the schools has already been noted.
Most of the cases received special treatment at the National
Orthopaedic Hospital or other Special Hospitals, but two cases
of spinal curvatur< , ore of flat foot, one of infantile paralysis, and
one of peripheral neuritis were treated at the King Edward Memorial
Hospital, Ealing, under the arrangements made by the Education
Committee.
The treatment of crippled children is one which calls for particular
consideration by the Committee because early treatment
can usually prevent permanent crippling, or failing that can greatly
modify the defect. At present the cases commonly go to Hospital
long after the onset of the condition when the best results of
operative treatment are impossible. Again, cases attend Hospital
so irregularly that the treatment fails by not being continuous,
and the attendance of the child at school suffers in consequenc
It is hoped that the proposed scheme for treatment at the
National Orthopaedic Hospital at Stanmore, which is under consideration,
will meet with approval. Under this scheme children
can be sent by the School Medical Officer to the National Orthopaedic
Hospital at Great Portland Street. There they will be
examined and if operative treatment is required they will be sent
to Stanmore, where not only will they undergo the operation,
but will attend school classes in order to continue their education.
If massage is required it will be carried out at the School Clinic
by a nurse from the Hospital.