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85
general increase in all Public Health work, the coming
year will see this matter becoming' more acute, and
unless provided for, will leave us with a lower standard
of work performed, by neglecting what is one of the
main branches of school medical service.
Diseases of the Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic.
This Clinic is held weekly on Wednesday mornings.
Mr. Beney, whose report follows, is the Specialist and
Consultant upon all ear, nose and throat conditions
coming to our notice, and he also carries out tonsil and
adenoid operations at the School Clinic where special
facilities are provided. Children undergoing operation
are retained over the 24 hours at the Clinic following
the operation, and returned by private conveyance to
their homes, where the Health Visitor visits daily for
one week.
It will be seen from the report that it is not every
enlarged tonsil case that is operated upon, as it has
always been our policy not to operate unless some other
impairment in health exists in the child. Thus less than
50 per cent. of cases with enlarged tonsils and adenoids
come under operation, and, although 130 operations in
one year may appear a large figure, it must not be
forgotten that practically 10 per cent. of children
examined shew abnormality of the tonsils.
Mr. Beney reports as follows: —
"During the past year I have operated on 130
"cases for the removal of septic or chronically enlarged
"tonsils and adenoids. Forty-three clinics have been
"held. Two hundred and sixty-eight children have
"been examined in consultation with the Assistant
"School Medical Officer. Sixteen cases have been
"referred to their own doctors for operation, and seven"teen
have been operated on by me at St. John's
"Hospital. Of the latter, five cases were for acute or
"chronic mastoid disease; four required intranasal
"operations for sinus infection, and eight were admitted
"for dissection of tonsils, because there was some com"plication
present which made hospital treatment
"necessary.