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86
public health is not to be encouraged; the further we
depart from the close contact between the public health
services and the parent the greater will be the danger of
misdirection of our efforts. I am convinced that the
" difficult " child should not be " specialised," but that
we should continue to treat the minor physical impairment,
to follow-up and correct the environment, and
to abolish all harmful stimuli. This has been the policy
of the School Medical Service in the past without
exercising intense psychological investigation and 011 this
basis we get equally good results without increasing the
expenditure of the local authority; it is not for us
especially during times of economic pressure to undertake
any service other than of approved value. Our policy
must be to limit the service to essentials, to maintain
close touch with the parent and teachers, and to inculcate
in the homes and clinics the principles of prevention of
ill-health.
A statistical summary of the year's work will
indicate, in so far ;is statistics are able to do so, the work
of the School Medical Service during 1933:—
Average school roll 5,519
Number of individual children who
attended medical clinics 1,817
Number of individual children medically
examined at schools 1,453
Medical examinations made 7,07(5
Treatments at the School Clinic 3,950
,, ,, ,, Dental Clinic 3,992
,, ,, ,, Eye Clinic 320
Operations for Tonsils and Adenoids 129
Attendances at the Orthopaedic Clinic 2,687
Treatments at Massage Clinic 2,229
,, ,, Sunlight Clinic 1,477
Children referred for own doctors'
certificates 731
Children receiving milk in schools
daily 698
Children referred to the Care Committee
306