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54
Report for 1920 of the Chief Medical Officer to the
Board of Education.
A very large proportion of the cases have received
treatment. It is however becoming somewhat difficult
for parents to obtain the necessary treatment as it is
specialist work and the London hospitals are beginning
to regard it as a form of treatment which should be
provided by local Education Authorities. Treatment
of Visual Defects is included in the Committee's scheme
under the Education Act, 1918, and will, no doubt, be
put in operation when financial conditions become less
stringent.
6. Dental Defects.
The number of children referred for treatment for
Dental defects is only a small proportion of those found
so suffering. Some degree of dental defect is found in
a very large proportion of all children examined and,
no doubt, ought to receive treatment. Only those,
however, have been referred for treatment who show
extensive decay, or a septic condition of the mouth, or
whose general health appears to be affected by the
condition of the teeth. Parents cannot as a rule be
persuaded of the necessity of having minor degrees of
dental defect treated and it would be a mere waste of
time to attempt to persuade them at present. This is
another form of treatment provided for in the scheme,
and when it is found possible to put it into operation
great benefit should result.
With these introductory remarks I beg to submit my
report which follows the lines laid down by the Board of
Education.
I have the honour to be,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your obedient servant,
T. S. McINTOSH,
School Medical Officer.