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113
results so far are most encouraging. The pioneer work was carried
out in France by Fore9tier.
Two children with this condition have come under our care during
the last year, and both are being treated with gold salts. One, a
comparatively mild case, is able to walk, and is being treated at the
clinic. The other, a severe case, is being dealt with at Stanmore. It
is too early yet to give a definite opinion on the value of the treatment
in these two cases, but there has been remarkable improvement in the
one other child (from another clinic) who has been treated in the
same way, and I have seen excellent results in two cases treated by
Dr. W. S. C. Copeman. I hope to say more about the Bromley
children next year.
Chronic arthritis of a single joint in a child always raises the
question of it being due to tuberculosis. In the early days of the disease
an exact diagnosis is often impossible; X-ray examination may not help
in the least and skin tests for tuberculous disease are only helpful if
persistently negative. It is trying both for parents and surgeon if this
state of doubt continues for many months. Examination of the joint
by open operation may settle the matter completely, but this is
a procedure that one cannot regard without a little misgiving. It
occurred to us some time ago that examination of a lymph gland in the
groin might help, seeing that the knee drains into these glands. This
little operation, performed under local anæsthesia, has given six positive
results in six cases, and it was employed in a child that came to the
Bromley Clinic. It promises to be a most valuable procedure."
H. J. Seddon, f.r.c.s.
Report of the School Dental Surgeon.
"The year 1936 has been marked by two important events in the
Dental Department. In February the Princes Plain Clinic was opened
with a well equipped dental surgery, and in September Mr. Fairman J.
Ordish was appointed to carry out dental treatment there.
Mr. Ordish gives us one day a week, and, although he only began
work in September, the accompanying figures will show how valuable
his assistance has been to the Committee.
Inspection.
During the year an inspection was carried out at every school
under the Education Authority except one.
It will be remembered that in the previous year. 1935, five schools
were carried over to the following year as there was no time for
inspecting them; it would appear therefore that we shall shortly be
back again on the recommended basis of annual inspection and annual
treatment for every school child.
A total of 5,102 children received a dental inspection and 2.744
were found to be in need of treatment, i.e., 58 per cent.
Treatment.
During 1936 the total number of attendances by children at the
Station Road Clinic and the Princes Plain Clinic was 4,368. Last year,