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Treatment.—The disease is very chronic and resistive to
the usual methods of treatment, the X-Rays, however, effect
a rapid destruction of the fungus in the hair and cure the
disease in a comparatively short time. On account of its
somewhat costly nature the Education Committee in 1910
obtained permission to carry out this treatment (under certain
conditions) in the case of children attending their elementary
schools. A full statement on the subject is set out in Dr.
Prior's Report for 1910. Dr. Knox carries out the treatment
oil behalf of the Committee, and during the year 22 of the
cases have been dealt with by him. In addition to these, 11
of the cases have been treated by X-Rays at one or other of
the London Hospitals.
Of the 41 cases re-admitted during the year 33 had been
treated by this method.
In no case has there been any untoward result from such
treatment, and the accumulating experience all over the
country proves that the risk is negligible.
It may be mentioned that a large proportion of the 32
cases excluded during the year were fresh admissions to our
schools.
Defective Vision.
Of the 493 children examined in the senior departments
48 (9.5 per cent.) were found to be suffering from defective
sight of such a degree as to necessitate treatment. In 27
( = about 60 per cent.) of these, treatment had already been
obtained (in many instances upon previous advice given at the
schools), and spectacles were being worn. Thirty-two cases
of minor visual defect were found. These minor defects, although
not usually calling for treatment, are not infrequently
the unsuspected cause of headaches, and this was constantly
kept in view in determining the advice to be given. A large
number of other children in both infants' and senior departments
were examined for defective vision as "special" cases,
but these do not appear in the above list.