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86
The fact that 2.28 per cent. of the children examined suffered
from an ear defect which in most cases would have remained
undetected without the auriscopic examination has justified this
additional feature in the medical inspections, particularly as the
time involved in carrying out the inspections has not been materially
increased. It is hoped by a continuance of this method to reduce
undetected ear disease to a minimum.
The Ear Clinic.
A special clinic is held once a week at the Mattock Lane and
Ravenor Health Centres for the investigation and treatment of
ear disease in children of school age and in children attending the
Welfare Centres. The clinic is under the supervision of Dr. Murdoch
MacGregor, who is specially qualified in this work, and mainly
consists of the treatment of chronic otitis media. Children suffering
from otorrhoea attend the Health Centres daily for treatment in
which the ears are cleansed of discharges and drops are instilled.
The cases are examined weekly at the special clinic and in selected
cases zinc ionization therapy is carried out. Where this treatment
is unsuccessful or where further operative measures are deemed
advisable the case is referred to hospital. To ensure that permanent
benefit has resulted in those successfully treated no case is finally
discharged until repeated examination covering a minimum period
cf six months has shown no recurrence of the disease. A case
is only considered cured when after this period the ear is dry and
there is no impairment of hearing.