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the leading ophthalmic surgeons that such a drug is almost
always necessary, and should only be administered under
medical supervision.
Arrangements have been made to keep all cases treated
in the department under supervision until they leave school.
Most of the children will be examined in two years' time and
a change of glasses ordered if necessary. Unlike the adult
eye, the eye of the child is in a state of growth, and hence
the strength of lens necessary to correct the refractive error
may vary from time to time. Certain children are found to
require more constant supervision, and attend the department
at shorter intervals of time.
Treatment of Squint.—This condition urgently requires
treatment when noticed in a child. The wearing of spectacles
is often sufficient to bring the eyes into line and cure the
condition. In certain cases this measure is insufficient, and
recourse must be made to an operation to bring the eye
straight. 22 cases of squint were detected during the
medical inspection. At the eye department 10 cases obtained
treatment by spectacles. In two cases it was found necessary
to refer the parents to a hospital for the necessary surgical
treatment.
Nutrition.—The estimation of the degree of nutrition
involves several considerations, such as physique, muscular
development, firmness of subcutaneous tissues, facial appearance,
redness of mucous membranes, condition of hair,
eyes, etc., 1,262 were considered to show good nutrition,
1,502 normal nutrition, 217 poor, 1 very poor. The greater
number of children were classified as normal, but it must not
be thought that normal in this case means satisfactory. We
should like to see all children classified as having good
nutrition. At present there is much room for improvement.
Lack of food is, of course, of minor importance in a district
such as Ilford. Rather more importance must be attached