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to the removal of deciduous teeth and be diffident when offered conservative
treatment. The mother is in some cases rather fearful
lest the small patient may dislike the operation. To create a wish
for something worth while to the child is at times baffling.
"Many factors work against the clinics. Extraction is even
ordered for the child before he arrives at the clinic.
"The failures of appointments and re-appointments are great,
especially in the latter respect when fillings are required."
Mr. L. W. Elmer, L.D.S., reports as follows:—
"Only two mothers were supplied with artificial dentures
during the last year. This number would have been exceeded had
it been more widely known that early attention is highly desirable.
Many women only attended for treatment a short while before their
baby's birth; indeed, in some cases whilst nursing. These, of
course, only received surgical treatment, but if they had attended
during the early months of pregnancy, not only could the treatment
have been of greater advantage to both mother and child, but any
teeth that were inefficient could have been replaced speedily by
artificial substitutes.
"An encouraging feature of this work has been the increasing
number of small children who have been brought by their parents
for preventive treatment before they have actually suffered from
toothache. This is the true criterion of the efficiency of a Dental
Scheme if it is to be, as it should be, preventive in its scope.
"The thanks for this improvement are due to the advice given
at the Clinics and to a more general enlightenment in the subject
of Dental Hygiene."
(c) Tonsils and Adenoids.—Six cases were operated on under
the arrangement made by the Education Committee with the Connaught
Hospital.
(d) Ophthalmic Defects and Minor Ailments.—Children are
given treatment either at the School Clinics or by special
appointment.
(e) Invalid Children's Aid Association.—Miss Lewis, Secretary
of the local branch of the Invalid Children's Aid Association,
kindly reports that the following cases under five years of age were
dealt with by her Association:—