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25
but we find that in Hendon this number is considerably
less than in many other areas. The provision of a special
'treatment clinic' in each area—four—to carry out certain
of the treatments prescribed at the E.N.T. clinic,
Town Hall, is a very important administrative factor in
securing a good attendance and also in reducing the time
lost from school while the children are having a course of
treatment.
In going over the Table of Returns for the year we
find that there were only 18 cases of chronic discharging
ears, including school and pre-school ages, and that 14 of
these were 'discharged' with the ears 'quite dry'. Two,
with definite mastoid involvement were referred to
hospital for operation. There were 25 'acute discharging
ears'. These figures are remarkably low for a Borough
of the size of Hendon.
The main bulk of the children seen at the clinic during
the year, requiring special treatment, was for different
affections of the nose and throat. As is usual a very
large number of children, 95, were referred to the clinic
during the year as 'enlarged tonsils and adenoids', with a
view to operation. Of these ,35 were recommended as
suitable for operation and referred to hospital. For the
remainder, operation was not considered necessary, or
likely to improve the conditions from which the children
suffered. These cases had conservative tonsil treatment,
including 'tonsil suction' and throat painting, with treatment
for any existent nasal defects. Before any case is
referred for operation, we must be satisfied from the
'history' of the complaints, and condition of the tonsils
and adenoids, that there is a clear, definite pathological
disease, or hypertrophy of the tonsils and adenoids, so
great as to cause 'obstruction' present, which can be
relieved only by removal of the tonsils and adenoids.
Special attention is paid to the condition of the nose and
nasal sinuses in these cases, as so very frequently happens,
efficient treatment of any nasal defects present has a
marked effect in improving the 'apparent' disease of the
tonsils.