View report page

14
noted by me in the defect book and seen again twice within the year. They
are all strongly urged treatment: in many cases personal notes are sent to the
parents.
The clerks at the Clinics are indefatigably kind in keeping lists of small
payments on account for glasses in difficult cases.
Many cases were referred by me to Dr. Smith Clark of diseases of the eye
during the year and she has very kindly seen these cases again as required.
(/) Diseases of the Ear.
"Running ears," the result of otitis media may be caused by spread of
infection from tonsils and adenoids, or may originate in the middle ear or
spread from the mastoid cells. It may cause deafness or, if neglected, a very
foul discharge, abscess of the brain or "blood poisoning."
Thirty-two were referred for treatment at inspection and 381 at Clinics
as against a total of 339 last year.
(g) Dental Disease.
In accordance with the advice of the Chief Medical Officer of the Board of
Education, only those children are referred for treatment from Routine Medical
Inspection who are suffering from such dental disease as is definitely detrimental
to health, such as toothache, ulceration, sepsis and abscess of the gums. The
remainder are left for the dentists' own visits to the school as they are in charge
of the actual preservation of the teeth. In consequence, out of 4,436 children
examined, 564 only were referred for treatment by me. This is 12.7 per cent,
of all children seen as against the dentists' 79 per cent.
(h) Crippling Defects.
Eight cases were due to rickets, e.g., bow-legs, knock-knee, depression of
the chest wall or pigeon breast. Eleven cases of spinal curvature, including
merely postural or bad standing position were found. The 217 cases of "other
deformities" comprise rupture of all kinds (including the navel), malformation
of genital organs, flat foot, etc.
(i) Heart Disease and Anaemia.
Thirteen cases of "organic" heart were found; these include children
born with malformation of the heart, the so-called congenital heart.