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19
Dr. Churchill comments on the infrequency with which
children arrive in an alarmed or worried condition and ipays tribute
to the good handling of such children by the dental attendants.
He stresses the importance of a planned layout for a dental
clinic, in which respect Walthamstow is most fortunate. He also
stresses the great advantage of using oxygen with nitrous oxide
in giving a satisfactory anaesthetic to young children with a positive
pressure apparatus and mentions the promise of even further
improvements which are to be made available in an apparatus which
has recently been designed.
Dr. Churchill concludes that at present it seems as if Halothane
may well replace the older anaesthetics (such as Ethyl
Chloride, Vinyl Ether, Trilene, etc.) as the safest and most convenient
for dental use. His objection to the use of the older
anaesthetics lies in the longer recovery time, the greater incidence
of vomiting and the problem of getting children home.
Conditions of a satisfactory School Dental Scheme.
During the year an extract from "The Health of the School
Child" (Report of the Chief Medical Officer of the Ministry of
Education for the years 1954 and 1955) was re-circulated to all
medical and dental staff.
In view of the continuing shortage of dental surgeons, the
medical staff and head teachers were advised that dental treatment
was to be given by appointment only and that no "casual" treatment
was to be given. This became all the more necessary in order
that the comparatively small number of routine dental inspections
carried out at schools could be increased.
The medical staff were asked to restrict their own referral of
dental patients to cases of gross sepsis and toothache, with special
consideration to children attending special schools.
SPECIALIST CLINICS
(All Specialist Clinics are staffed as to Consultants by the Regional Hospital
Board. Day to day administration has continued unaltered.)
(a) Eye Clinic.-The Visual acuity of all children is tested at
entrant medical inspections, but even so this may mean several
months delay after admission. "Toddler" examinations are held
before school entry, not only to test visual acuity, but to detect the
defects which many children are known to show at entry to school.
Dr. Hilton Ho states that he has already cut down the use of
Atropine as a cyclopegic except in young children under 5 years.
For children above five years of age Homatropine and Cocaine