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222
Of the County scholars submitted to dental inspection
during 1935, some 59.6 per cent, were found to be in need of
dental treatment (comparative Leyton figure—70 per cent.).
Of County children requiring and offered treatment, only 25
per cent, accepted. This acceptance rate compares very
unfavourably with the rate of 53 per cent, in Leyton elementary
schools ; but the low County figure is no doubt due to the
comparative lack of facilities for treatment.
During recent years, as a result of the falling birth rate,
there has been a marked decrease in the number of children
attending Leyton elementary schools. That there has been no
corresponding decrease in the work of school medical and
dental inspection is evident from the following comparative
figures for the years 1931 and 1935.
1931. 1935.
Number of Children on School Rolls 16,667 14,332
Medical Inspection in Schools—
(a) Routine medical inspections 5,973 5,122
(b) Special medical inspections 2,335 3,804
(c) Re-inspections (medical) 8,866 12,109
(d) Dental Inspections 10,178 13,222
(e) Cleanliness inspections by
nurses 31,013 35,016
Total 58,365 69,274
These figures show that, in the five-year period 1931-35,
there has been a substantial increase in the amount of medical
and dental inspection of school children in the area; and
during that period there has been no addition to the personnel
of the medical, dental and nursing staff to cope with the
increasing scope of the medical services and the increasing
intensity of medical supervision.
The opening of the two joint clinics at Leyton Green (in
1933) and at Park House (in 1935) necessitated a general
increase in the number of sessions devoted to the medical
services of the Maternity and Child Welfare and Education
Authorities. In September, 1935, special diphtheria