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the eyes, such as blepharitis, corneal ulcer and defects of the
lachrymal passages.
Parents have co-operated well over the treatment of squints,
which is often a prolonged and difficult piece of work, requiring
a great deal of patience on the part of the mothers.
Several pieces of worn-out and out-of-date medical apparatus
have been able to be replaced this year. The result is that the
Clinic is now very well equipped.
I should like to conclude by offering my sincere thanks to all
those who have helped so untiringly to make the School Eye
Clinic run so smoothly. The Health Visitors and School Nurses
have played their part valiantly. As usual the Secretarial staff
have been most co-operative and most helpful in every way.
Only with such assistance is it possible for the Clinic to carry on
in the trouble free way in which it does."
ORTHOPTIC CLINIC.
Over the past year 1,828 treatments have been given. There
are no waiting lists for either new cases or treatments.
The increase of 242 treatments from the previous year may
be accounted for by the extra number of sessions during 1952 and
the increase from two and a half hours, to three hours per session.
The number of new patients is always far greater than the
number discharged, therefore, the extra half-hour per session
allows each patient to be seen a little longer—this being
particularly beneficial to new cases.
Spectacles are being obtained reasonably quickly after they
have been prescribed, but the waiting list for squint operations is
still a great drawback.
Patients are given a course of orthoptics treatment and then,
if necessary, put on the waiting list. By the time they are
admitted to hospital, they have often deteriorated so much that
their condition is the same as when they first attended the
orthoptic clinic. In some cases it is essential to keep up continuous
treatment while they are on the waiting list, so that there
can be no deterioration. This is a gross waste of time and can
only be overcome if the waiting list is diminished.
EAR, NOSE AND THROAT DEFECTS.
During the year 343 children received operative treatment in
hospitals for adenoids and chronic tonsillitis, and five for other
nose and throat conditions. I have no detailed information as to