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47
The following table shows the average work done on a sessional basis for the years 1932 and
1931:—

The Anaesthetist attended on 183 sessions and administered general anaesthetics to 3,919
patients, thus making an average of 21.4 cases per session. The patients included young children
of about two years of age, school children and nursing and expectant mothers in various stages of
physical fitness.
During all these administrations there was nothing of an adverse nature to mention, nor have
any complaints of disturbing after effects been reported to us from parents. Great credit is again
due to the Anaesthetist for the highly skilful way he has handled these patients.
The year's successful results are due in no small measure to the efforts of the Dental Nurses
at the Centres and Schools. Their work on the district also has helped to maintain a regular supply
of patients to the Centres.
PART II.
SCHOOL MEDICAL SERVICE.
Inspection.
Routine.—400 visits were made by the Dental Officers to the Schools, when 20,957 scholars
were inspected out of a total school population of 21,427.
14,407 children, or 68-7 per cent, of number inspected, were found to be defective and advised
to have treatment. This is an improvement on the previous year, when 70 per cent, had carious
teeth. The average number inspected per session was 52.
A perusal of the annual reports of local authorities shows that the average number of children
inspected at a school session varies widely in different parts of the country. A fact which sometimes
gives rise to comment. It is scarcely necessary to point out that this variation has no relation
to the ability or energy of the officers concerned, but rather to the scheme operative under each
particular authority.
The School Dentist who inspects and charts, and is able to rely on others to collect consents
and ensure a regular attendance of children for treatment has time to cope with more children than
one not so favourably supported. The latter has to spend much time talking individually to the
children, in order to arouse sufficient interest for them to want and actually ask their parents to
allow them to have treatment.
Casual Cases.—There has been a gratifying decrease of 522 in the number of casual cases,
the figure for the year being 968, against 1,490 of the previous year. The bulk of these, of course,
are neglected cases, but included among them is a group who have learned to care for their teeth
and seek advice during the period intervening between school inspections. Some of them are children
about to leave school. There are indications that this number is increasing but we have no accurate
record.
Treatment.
Of the 15,375 children with defects 5,365, or approximately 35 per cent., were treated at the
Centres. Progress is again shown here, for the corresponding figure in 1931 was 32-3 per cent., and
in 1930 29-9 per cent.
The treatment, which occupied 1,258 sessions of the Dental Officers' time, and 14,245 attendances
of the children, included 9,471 fillings, of which 8,366 were done on the permanent teeth and
1,105 on the temporary. Also 12,062 teeth extractions, 1,946 of which were permanent teeth and
5,359 sundry operations of root and gum treatment, swabbing, silver nitrate, etc. The number of fillings
per 100 children was 176, and the number of extractions 224. In the case of the permanent teeth
36 per 100 children were extracted. This latter figure is another which varies greatly in different
parts of England. In some parts of the Provinces it is as low as 3, while in London (L.C.C.) it amounts
to 39. The proportion of fillings done to teeth removed continues to improve, and for the year is
as 1/1-2 compared with 1/1-6 in 1931 and 1/2-2 in 1930.