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56
These, however, have proved to be few in view of the
present trend to limit the number of occasions on which
children should be subjected to radiation by X rays.
A local survey undertaken in July last year failed to
demonstrate any significant effect upon asthmatics living
in a defined area as a result of an alleged cause of air
pollution.
The total attendances for the year were 889, This is
in keeping with the decreasing trends noted over the past
5-6 years, The total number is, however^ unduly low
since the Clinic was unable to treat cases for 19 weeks
owing to the ill-health of its Physiotherapist:

SCHOOL DENTAL SERVICE
The school dental service has had a successful year
from the point of view of work done and the output of the
dental officers has increased but the shortage of dental
surgeons referred to in previous reports continues to keep
our staff below full establishment and regular annual
inspections of all school children are still impossible
in the more densely populated parts of the area
Mr. Breslin, a full-time officer, left us in July,
1957 after three years' service to take up an appointment
in the Colonial Service and we were very sorry to lose
him. It has not proved possible to replace him with a
full-time officer. We have now only three full-time offi
cers, our establishment is seven, and as far as possible
sessions have to be filled up by part-time officers There
are several part-time officers who have been with us for
considerable periods and whose services we value highly
but far too often the part-time officer who applies for
sessional employment is only using the local authority as
a stop-gap and they hardly get to know the conditions at
a particular clinic before they leave, Very newly quali
fied dental surgeons often apply for employment, whilst
waiting for other professional openings, and whilst their
help is welcome, they have not always the experience to
cope with the demands of a busy clinic and progress with
treatment is not as rapid as desirable,
The very high proportion of conservative work relative