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Increasing prominence is now being given to the medical
supervision of the pre-school child. In many districts separate
sessions are held for these children, definite appointments being
sent in the form of invitation cards at about the time of the child's
birthday. The mother then attends only with the child in question
and the consultation can be held unhampered by the presence of
a baby or other young children. This method has not been found
either necessary or desirable at any of the Council's Health Centres,
partly because it is easier for the mother to bring all her family
at one visit and also because it is more satisfactory to see the child
as a part of its own family rather than as an isolated unit. The
figures given in this table show the high proportion of pre-school
children who attend. It is apparent that the percentage of
defective children increases with the age-group. This is no doubt
due to the fact that many children with no defects cease to attend
as the parents consider supervision no longer necessary, and also
that there are still parents who bring their children only when
"something is wrong." The fact that child consultations are held
for supervisory and educative purposes rather than for actual
treatment is still not realised by a large majority of parents.
The type of defect found varies in each age-group. In the
first group (one year to 18 months) the large majority are congenital
defects (such as harelip and cleft palate, heart disease, club foot,
etc.) together with early signs of rickets, and occasional cases of
spastic paralysis and some types of mental deficiency. As growth
proceeds, developmental defects become apparent and treatment
has to be advised for such conditions as knock knees, bow legs,
flat feet and other orthopaedic defects. Dental treatment is
available at any age and a large number of older children often
attend the centre for the first time on account of dental decay.
Speech defects (more common in boys than in girls) become more