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95
It would perhaps be clearer if each group is discussed
in greater detail in the report. The treatment of these
cases, however, does not end with these services. The
reference of children to their own doctor for domiciliary
treatment, or to general hospitals for investigation.
occupies a great deal of the school medical officers' work.
The following-up of children in their own homes and at
school by the school nurses is a further extension, and it is
only by co-ordination of each clinic that a child can obtain
the full benefits of the services offered by the Local
Authority. These groups do not by any means complete
the supervision of the child. The exceptional child, the
mentally deficient child, the blind child, the deaf child,
the epileptic child, and the physically defective child, all
require not only special medical treatment but also special
methods of education. This latter particularly occupies
much time and incurs much expense, but it is natural
that when these facilities cannot be provided privately, the
Local Authority should fulfil their obligation. There is
too the child requiring moral correction and a change of
environment in order to correct the faulty management at
home. This latter type of defect is obviously one requiring
the co-operation of all persons concerned with the welfare of
society.
Table IV. Group I. Minor Ailment Clinic. (Page 118).
By reference to Table IV, Group I, it will be seen that
no less than 1,563 defects in children were treated at the
routine medical clinic by the school nurses, and a further
150 defects were otherwise treated, that is, treatment at
home by the parent under direction of the clinic staff. It
will he observed that apart from minor illnesses among
school children the main treatment is given for such minor
ailments as skin diseases. It has been found that children
treated at the School Clinic for such defects are returned
more rapidly to school than those treated at home; thus is
economy of school time achieved. Where treatment can
be made more efficacious so is it possible to return the child
more expeditiously to school for continuous education.
There are cases, however. where regularity of treatment is
not maintained, through carelessness of the parent, or
misdemeanours of the child.