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19
for examination. Similarly, I would like to acknowledge the help
given by the dental staff in diagnosing the cause of pain in the ear
where there is no ocular evidence of disease in it.
"Increasing use is being made of the audiometer to test children
at the close of a session in order to gain information as to their
progress under treatment. This is in addition to the routine tests
carried out at the schools and at the central clinic. In conformity
with the experience gained here and elsewhere, attention is concentrated
on the young children. Deafness, so prevalent among
adults, has usually the foundation laid in early lifetime. The
opportunity for restoring function occurs only in the early stage.
Young children's noses are small, and if they get a cold become
easily blocked, and this encourages the inflammation to spread to
the ear. The method of treatment known as diastolisation has been
a boon in this respect."
(g) Dental Defects.—Staffing.—An additional Dental Surgeon
and Dental Attendant were appointed during the year. Owing to
sickness and leave of absence the total number of sessions devoted
to inspection and treatment were, however, slightly less than during
the previous year.
"Casual" Treatment.—Treatment is given between 11 a.m.
and 12 noon on Mondays and Fridays, and between 10 a.m. and
12 noon on Wednesdays. These patients should not be treated in
any ideal school dental scheme inasmuch as they are mostly patients
suffering from toothache and for whom, presumably, the parents
have previously been offered, and have refused, routine dental
treatment. If treatment had been accepted, the toothache would
probably have been obviated.
Propaganda: Folders.—Copies of the illustrated folder, "The
story of a tooth," and the pamphlet, "What about your teeth,"
issued by the Dental Board of the United Kingdom, have been given
to the senior children.
Treatment of Secondary and Technical School Pupils.—The work
done for the Essex County Council is shown below and is not included
in Table V, at the end of the report.