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Eighteen of these children had been discharged from hospital or convalescent home after they had
been treated for rheumatism.
Family History.
A history of rheumatism in the family is significant. Eighteen children gave a history of
rheumatism and 7 suffered from the disease.
Environmental Conditions.
Dampness and rheumatism are closely related. Sixteen children lived in damp homes and 7 of
them suffered from rheumatism. The dampness in the 16 homes was investigated by the Medical Officer
of Health and remedied as far as possible.
Tonsils and Adenoids.
Rheumatism may be associated with infected tonsils. Fifteen children had their tonsils and adenoids
removed and 7 of them suffered from rheumatism.
Rheumatism—T reatment
Sent for convalescence 6
Referred to dental clinic 2
Referred to eye clinic 2
Referred to orthopaedic clinic 7
Referred to hospital 4
Special reports requested from hospital 8
Medicinal and vitamin therapy 14
Referred to Medical Officer of Health 16
The summary reveals the valuable contribution made by the rheumatism clinic for the better health
and happiness of the children. In addition, other defects are also investigated and referred for treatment
if required.
DENTAL SERVICE
The service has received setbacks in the past year because of staff changes, and the difficulties of
obtaining dental staff to replace them; as a result both Monks Park (September, 1954—-January, 1955) and
Kilburn clinics (May—July) were closed for three months. The clinic at High Road, Willesden is still
heavily overburdened with work.
The school dental service is responsible for inspecting and treating children who attend maintained
schools. Children should be inspected and treated every year, preferably every six months. The opening
of the clinic in October, 1954 at 22, Brondesbury Villas with two dental surgeries has improved the position
in the Kilburn area.
In 1949, owing to the shortage of accommodation and difficulty in recruiting dental officers, only
33% of the school population was inspected and offered treatment, so that children were being inspected only
once in three years and their treatment was therefore not satisfactory.
In February, 1952 a restricted scheme was introduced to deal yearly with children who had not
reached their ninth birthday, in order to prevent dental decay which would only lead to more work in the
future. The foundation of dental health is laid in the early years, when the first permanent teeth erupt, and
malformation of jaws and irregularities of the teeth can be prevented by conserving the temporary teeth.
Also it is generally more difficult for younger children to obtain treatment outside the service.
In 1954, 8,266 children in this age group of about 10,000 were inspected in the schools, and another
2,362 children came direct to the clinics, 60% of whom came from the older age groups; four out of five of
those inspected required treatment. (Table 1.)
There is now an efficient service for young children, but more staff and accommodation are required
to provide a similar service to older age groups.
In October, the orthodontic service was commenced at Brondesbury Villas, Kilburn, with only
two sessions per week; it is hoped to have more in future.