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40
TREATMENT OF DEFECTS OF NOSE AND THROAT. '
At the commencement of the year there were well over two
hundred children on the waiting list for the operative treatment
of tonsils and adenoids. As has been mentioned in the opening
remarks to this report arrangements were made with the Ealing
and Brentford & Chiswick Hospitals Committee for these operations
to be performed at the Clayponds Isolation Hospital and 202 cases
were dealt with in this way. The number would have been greater
had it not have been for the outbreak of poliomyelitis which caused
the suspension of operations at the end of the summer vacation.
The ear, nose and throat clinics were conducted as usual at two
of the main health centres in the borough by the otologist, Mr.
Arthur Miller, F.R.C.S., and a summary of his work for the year
is set out below :
During 1947, 825 attendances were made at the Mattock Lane
and Ravenor Park ear clinics. Of these, 718 attendances were
made by school children referred from the minor ailment clinics
and school inspection, and 107 from the child welfare centres.
The treatment advised by the surgeon was carried out at the
various health centres and included, ionization and diastolisation,
instillation of ear drops and insufflation of iodised boiic acid,
politzeration and cauterisation.
Thirty cases needing X-Ray for diagnostic purposes were
referred by the surgeon to the West Middlesex Hospital or the
Central Middlesex Hospital.
ORTHOPAEDIC AND POSTURAL DEFECTS.
The orthopaedic clinic under the supervision of an orthopaedic
surgeon from the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital was conducted
throughout the year at the Mattock Lane Health Centre.
There were 8 children admitted to the Stanmore Branch of the hospital
referred to above for residential treatment and 138 cases dealt
with locally at the clinic. The work at the clinic included treatment
by a qualified physiotherapist and also the supplying of children
with special boots and surgical appliances. Orthopaedic treatment
was not confined to pupils attending maintained schools in the
area, the facilities being available to pre-school children. School
children made 1,003 attendances for massage and remedial treatment
and 519 attendances were recorded in respect of pre-school
children.