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In those cases too poor to consult a private oculist, and
if the parent is sufficiently persistent, a child with defective
sight can usually obtain the proper prescription at one or
other of the London Hospitals; if unable to afford the necessary
spectacles, they are assisted by the Children's Care Committee.
In the year under review, this Committee helped
to provide 7 pairs of spectacles. I notice with regret that
in several instances the children have been taken to opticians
instead of a properly qualified oculist. It has been stated
that some doctors have advised parents to do this, and have
gone so far as to put atropine into the eyes for the convenience
of an optician. Although this statement has been very
definitely made to me, I am still incredulous, as I cannot
easily believe that any doctor would give this advice or assist
in such irregular treatment. To prescribe the correct glasses
requires special training on the doctor's part, and I usually
find that if the parents cannot afford the oculist's fee their
doctor recommends them to take the child to a hospital.
When we have the services of a school oculist many of the
difficulties in connection with this important matter of eyesight
will be solved.
External Eye Disease (Inflammatory).
47 cases were found; a very large proportion being mild
cases of slight inflammation at the margins of the lids
(Marginal Blepharitis). There were two cases of ordinary
catarrhal conjunctivitis, and 3 of corneal opacity due to previous
inflammation, and 1 case of cataract.
Discharging Ears.
Of the 976 senior children examined, 14 (=1.44%) were
found to be suffering from chronic discharge from the ears,
and of the 549 infant children, 10 (=1.82%) were found to
be suffering from the same defect. The whole being equal
to 1.58%. The necessity of having this condition attended
to cannot be insisted upon too strongly.