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The voluntary attendance of the children at the Cleansing Station continues.
In many cases the children regard the bathing as a treat, and look forward to it.
In the few cases where compulsory cleansing has been required it has been carried
out without the opposition that often arises under such circumstances. The children
were again provided with cocoa after the bath by the kindness of a lady member
of the Education Committee.
The smooth working of the cleansing scheme reflects great credit on those
engaged in carrying it out, and especially on the influence and tact of the School
Nurse. No prosecutions took place in 1917.
Treatment has been increasingly difficult to obtain for some conditions. In
Eyesight cases the number which could be dealt with at Hospital was limited.
In the Report for 1916 it was stated that the facilities for obtaining treatment at
Hospital were diminished by one-half. From October 1917 onwards it was found
impossible to obtain treatment without restrictions that made it unattainable for
this district. Now arrangements have been made for treatment under Dr. Critchley
at Croydon instead of at Guy's Hospital. The number of children requiring treatment
at the end of the year was eighteen.
In throat cases there was considerable reluctance on the part of mothers to
take on themselves the responsibility of consenting to operation in the absence of
the fathers on military service. Of the 66 throat cases requiring treatment, 28 were
treated, 25 were not treated, and in 13 cases no report was available owing to the
children having left the district.
THE DENTAL CLINIC.
To the Chairman and Members of the Education Committee of the Urban District
Council of Penge.
I have the honour to present to you the Fifth Annual Report on the work done
in connection with the School Dental Clinic.
This report deals with the inspection and treatment of the teeth of children
between the ages of five and eight years. I undertook to act as deputy for Mr.
Barr, L.D.S., on May 15th, 1917.
I wish to acknowledge the great assistance and work of Nurse Miss Linford
Brown.