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mainly on the first two fields, whereas our activities in the third
sphere, the maintenance and advancement of health, have been
overwhelmed by the need for activities in the others.
There is no doubt in my mind that the provision of milk in
school and school meals, and the development of physical training
are playing the greater part at the present time in the maintenance
of health of the school child than are the medical
treatment services.
There is, however, no doubt that we are, by means of routine
inspections, discovering defects in the early stages, and, by our
treatment, preventing these defects undermining the development
of the wellbeing of the child.
DENTAL INSPECTION.
(See Table IV)
A full programme of inspection was unfortunately incomplete
owing to the shortage of Dental Staff in the latter part of
the year. The endeavour is to examine at least once a year all
children at maintained schools—3,986 children were inspected
of whom 2,776 required treatment—viz. 69 per cent.
Mr. B. S. Birkhahn reports:—
" The regretted departure of Mr. J. Glen in the autumn to
take up an academic post at Bristol University, following on his
protracted illness in June and July last, tended to disorganise
the working of our clinics. The routine school inspections were
suspended, in part, to enable us to cope with the numerous direct
applications for treatment and the special or emergency cases
referred by school teachers and the School Medical Officers.
" The splendid orthodontic scheme, so zealously built up by
Mr. Glen would have suffered a serious set-back without the
invaluable assistance of Dr. A. Buchan, the County Consulting
Orthodontist. His regular weekly attendances at the North
Clinic, where he worked a double session at full pressure, helped
largely in maintaining this service in its high state of efficiency.
" The Maternity and Child Welfare Service was, of necessity,
also somewhat strained. For several months in 1947, one full
session per week in both North and South Clinics was regrettably
sacrificed by each Dental Officer for a reciprocal " gas'
administration. However, the welcome appointment in midDecember,
of Mr. Ross in a temporary part-time capacity, helped
to ease our position.
" Despite the many set-backs during a trying year, the 1947
figures of our overtaxed Dental Department are not altogether
unfavourable."