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(f) Vision.
The Ophthalmic Surgeon attends one session per week
at the Clinic at the Martin School and examines all children
suffering from defects of vision or other eye conditions referred
to her.
During 1938, 202 children were referred for examination;
180 were submitted to refraction — spectacles were
prescribed in 164 cases and 136 actually obtained spectacles.
In 18 of these cases the parents were unable to pay the whole
cost of the spectacles and the Children's Care Committee
subscribed varying sums towards the purchase.
(g) Ear Disease and Hearing.
Children suffering from ear discharge and defective
'hearing are dealt with at the Minor Ailments Clinic at
Bourchier House. During the year 85 children were treated.
(h) Dental Defects.
I am indebted to Mr. C. R. Wilshaw, the Senior Dental
Officer for the following report on the year's work.
DENTAL REPORT, 1938.
The objective of the School Dental Service is to seek out
and remedy all caries in the teeth of the children and to maintain
the maximum of dental efficiency by retaining all saveable
teeth.
With this end in view, annual dental inspections are
carried out at the schools where the parents concerned are
invited to be present. The parents who attend are informed
of the treatment required and, if they desire their child to be
treated at the clinic, they are invited to sign the consent
form. Constant endeavour is made at these inspections to
note defects by their earliest signs, whether it be caries or
threatened irregularity by overcrowding. The details of treatment
required are recorded at the time of inspection and are
indicated on the consent form which is sent to the parents of
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