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216
treatment for their children. The Board looks to Authorities
to examine their present arrangements with a view
to securing that their dental staff does not fall short of the
requirements of their areas."
The dental staff of Leyton Education Authority consists of
two dental surgeons, of whom one also undertakes dental work
in connection with the Maternity and Child Welfare Scheme.
Each dentist is responsible for the inspection and treatment of
over 7,000 school children, and I have drawn attention repeatedly
in my Annual Reports to the fact that it is impossible
for a dental surgeon to inspect and treat efficiently that number
of children each year.
Based on the Board's standard, the present dental staff
of the Local Education Authority falls short of requirements
and should be increased by the appointment of an additional
dental surgeon.
Treatment of Ear Diseases.
Board of Education Circular 1444 states:—
" In view of the need for expert treatment of ear
diseases, which may result in deafness, it is very desirable
that Authorities, which have not yet done so, should
arrange for the services of part-time aural specialists who
would visit the areas periodically and advise as to the
treatment of such cases. The work of the specialists
should be closely co-ordinated with that of the aural
surgeons employed by Authorities responsible for the
maintenance of Isolation Hospitals, since so many ear
defects in children are the result of attacks of acute
infectious disease."
Acute middle ear disease is generally due to septic infection
of the nose and throat, the commonest causes being the common
cold, scarlet fever, measles, diphtheria, whooping cough,
etc. Chronic middle ear disease is due to lack of adequate
skilled treatment during the acute stage. In the acute stage
middle ear disease often endangers life ; in the chronic stage it
may cause deafness or lifelong invalidity and disability.
During last year some 314 Leyton school children were
found at school medical inspection to require observation or
treatment for ear diseases, and 273 children were actually
treated in the school minor ailments clinics for minor ear