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55
near future when the time comes for the present pre-school children
to attend school as many defects will have received treatment
which would otherwise remain untreated until the child comes
within the scope of the school medical service.
The one difficulty experienced is in securing the regular
presentation of the children for medical examination. Most of the
mothers appreciate the services provided for their children in the
early months of life, but a number are apt to regard further medical
examinations, when the child seems in good health, as being
unnecessary. Medical inspection becomes a routine procedure
in the school life of a child and the interval beforehand, a very
critical one in the life of the child, can only be bridged by tactful
and persistent following up on the part of the Health Visitors.
During the year under review 2,340 children were medically
examined in accordance with these arrangements, this number
comparing very well with 1,944 in the previous year and 1,845
in 1932.
Orthopaedic treatment.—Children found to be suffering from
orthopaedic defects are referred to the school medical department
and are dealt with at the special orthopaedic clinic held at the
Mattock L,ane Centre. During the year 111 children were referred
in this manner. A summary of the cases seen by the surgeon and
details regarding the treatment provided is contained in the report
on the work of the Orthopaedic Clinic given on page 83.
DENTAL TREATMENT.
The School Dentist reports as follows regarding the work
carried out on behalf of the Maternity and Child Welfare
Department:
Expectant and Nursing Mothers.—During the year 291
mothers received dental treatment, an increase of 32 over the
previous year, extractions and the fitting of dentures being the
chief form of treatment.
"Of the 291 women treated, 120 were supplied with full or
partial dentures. This is 21 greater in number than in the previous
year. The number of teeth actually extracted under gas was 2,253.
All of these teeth were hopelessly decayed and it would have been
unwise to have attempted to save them. Fillings were inserted
in 81 teeth, this figure being very small in comparison with the
number of extractions.