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Nurse, who is giving instruction in the care of the eyes,
and prevention of eye-strain, during measles epidemics,
will be a factor in the prevention of this somewhat high
return.
In the care and treatment of squint the Committee
established during the year an Orthoptic Clinic, which is
proving of undoubted value in treatment.
Dr. Eric Lyle's report on the treatment of eye defects
follows later in this report.
(e) Nose and Throat Defects.
Table IV., Group III. (page 1(162), gives the statistics
for the year.
Defects of the nose and throat continue to swell the
returns of defects, especially is this so in the children
attending special examinations at the school clinics.
Of the 1,815 children examined at routine medical
examinations at school, 5 per cent. had defects requiring
treatment, while 14 per cent. required further observation
before recommendation of operative treatment. Of the
2,500 children who attended special medical examinations,
22 per cent. required treatment, and 10 per cent. required
observation.
The report of Mr. Charles lieney, Ear, Nose and
Throat Specialist, follows later in this report.
(f) Ear Disease and Defective Hearing.
Table Ila. (page 155) and Table IV., Group I. (page
160) give statistical information for the year.
At routine medical examinations 14 children were
discovered with chronic ear disease, who were receiving no
treatment, or inadequate treatment for their condition,
while at the special inspections 249 children were referred
to the minor ailment clinics for treatment. This latter
figure is dependent upon the prevalence of catarrhal
injections, a frequent precursor of ear disease. If these
cases can be treated early much chronic ear disease can be
prevented, but there remain some chronic cases so resistant
to treatment that hospital in-patient treatment is essential.