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109
636 cases were referred for treatment in respect of visual
defect during the year 1929 and, including 143 cases awaiting treatment
at the termination of the year 1928, 607 cases have been
treated in the past year. On the 31st of December, 1929, there
were 130 children with markedly defective vision who had not been
seen by the Ophthalmic Surgeon. A waiting list such as this
results in considerable delay, and in many cases a period of from
three to four months intervenes between the discovery of the defect
and attendance for treatment. Unfortunately it has not been
possible to give an opportunity of attending the Ophthalmic Clinic
to all the children with lesser degrees of visual defect. There
were 81 such cases discovered during the year and it is hoped
that these children will be dealt with as soon as the more urgent
cases have been treated.
A Sight-saving Class at Monega Road School was opened by
the Education Committee in June, 1928. 20 children are in attendance
at this class, and they are all kept under observation by the
Ophthalmic Surgeon at certain intervals. (See also Ophthalmic
Surgeon's Report, p. 131.)
(g) Ear Disease.
155 consultations were given and 105 children were treated at
the General Ear Clinic. This clinic was discontinued in October,
1929.
Mr. R. Savege, the Authority's Aural Surgeon, commenced
the ionisation method of treatment for cases of ear disease in June,
1929, and, in view of the fact that this form of treatment occupies
a much longer period in each case and of the general increase in
the attendance of cases at the Aural Clinic, the Education Committee
decided that arrangements should be made for Mr. Savege
to attend for two sessions per week as from the 1st October, 1929.
During the period June to December, 1929, 36 Aural Clinic
sessions were held. The total attendances at the Aural Clinic was
765, making an average attendance, at each session, of 21 patients.
Ionisation treatment was carried out in 30 cases, 70 applications
being made; that is to say an average of 2.5 ionisation treatments
were performed at each session; the treatment occupies just over
half an hour in each case. Although it is somewhat early to form
an opinion, the results of ionisation have proved, for the most