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52
The figures of the toddler clinics in this connection are full of interest.
In 1937 49 children aged 2 had defective teeth, 468 aged 3 and 444 aged 4. These
figures correspond at 2 years to 6.8 percent., at 3 years to 26.1 percent., and at
4 years to 46.6 percent. of the children examined—101 children or 6.2 percent. had
already had teeth extracted or filled.
Dentures are provided free, at part cost, or at cost price, according to the
ability to pay, and payment is spread over many weeks. In consequence, the
income received during the year includes money received in respect of dentures
supplied in previous years. Forty-two sets (complete or partial) of artificial teeth
were supplied during the year at a total cost of £188 12s. 6d. Payments by mothers
amounted to £104 3s. 9d.
Arrangements were made with the London County Council for an X-ray examination
in dental cases whenever the dental surgeon considered this necessary, at the
cost of 7s. 6d. per attendance.
Orthopaedic Treatment for Children Under Five Years or Age.—
Children requiring orthopaedic treatment are referred to the remedial clinic of the
Woolwich Invalid Children's Aid Association. The Council pay for children under
five years of age sent by their medical officers to the clinic, 2s. Od. per attendance
for cases requiring massage or electrical treatment and 1s. 6d. per attendance for
any other form of treatment. The cost of these services for the year was
£244 2s. Od. Only cases recommended by the Medical Officer of Health are
included in this scheme, and payment is only made for the number of attendances
approved by him. Excluding 53 children where wedges only were necessary, and
53 others where temporary splinting only was required, the children referred to
the clinic required treatment for the conditions set out under tabulated headings
in Table No. 17. A further 76 children were referred for instruction in simple
exercises to be carried out at home.
All children referred to this clinic are carefully "followed up" either by the
Voluntary Visitors of the Association or by the Council's Health Visitors.
The Woolwich Invalid Children's Aid Association's main clinic is in Thomas
Street, Woolwich, but arrangements have been made for the treatment of Eltham
children on three days a week at Christchurch Church Hall, Eltham High Street.
The Association found, just as the Council did in the case of the artificial sunlight
clinic, that the matter of attendances of Eltham children was a very difficult problem
for Eltham mothers. The arrangement is a temporary one. The Maternity and
Child Welfare Committee have accepted in principle the establishment of a municipal
orthopaedic clinic at Eltham to be housed in the same building as the proposed
artificial sunlight clinic.