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"Infants and pre-school children are now treated at the clinic
for both aural and nasal conditions.
"Amongst the special treatments adopted at the clinic, Friel's
Zinc Ionisation method is the standard one used for practically all
cases of chronic and some cases of acute otorrhoea. The results are
excellent and lasting. It saves time and relieves the patient of
the necessity of frequent visits to the clinic and also of having to
carry out any treatment himself.
' 'Diastolisation, the new French method of treatment for nasal
catarrh, rhinitis, nasal obstruction, impaired nasal respiration,
etc., has been used with success in a very large number of cases
suffering from these conditions. It is also used for similar complaints
when they form a complication of chronic otitis media, as
a collateral treatment to zinc ionisation for the ear. The importance
of treating existing nasal defects in these circumstances is to be
emphasised.
' 'Diastolisation is a most useful form of treatment when its
principles and technique are understood and correctly carried out.
"During the year, the Committee provided a new Proetz
'Displacement' Apparatus for the diagnosis and treatment of nasal
sinus suppuration. This is an important acquisition to the clinic.
The presence of nasal sinus disease in children is much more frequent
than was formerly believed and is frequently the precursor and
cause of the chronicity in such conditions as nasal catarrh, diseased
tonsils and adenoids and impaired general health.
' 'The principle of the method consists in emptying the nasal
sinuses under negative pressure and filling with Ephedrine solution.
This relieves the delicate lining mucosa of the constant irritation
of the septic discharge and allows it to recover. A number of cases
were treated by 'Displacement' during the year with very gratifying
results.
"The subject of tonsils and adenoids operation has received
careful attention. Too often this operation has been performed,
quite unnecessarily, with no appreciable benefit to the patients.
' 'The School Medical Officer desires that a conservative attitude
should be adopted towards the removal of tonsils and adenoids
amongst school children generally. In this decision he is supported
by the highest authorities, and the number of children now referred
for operation is reduced to the minimum. There have been no
disadvantages from this decision.