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6
It was therefore possible to undertake only limited
routine dental inspections at schools, the aim being to
examine as many children as possible commensurate with the
capacity of the available dental staff to treat them
within a reasonable period. Since the end of sugar and
sweet rationing there has been a gradual increase in the
incidence of dental decay. It is now agreed that it is
possible to arrest this trend by attention to preventive
measures. To foster good dental habits through oral
hygiene instruction at an early age can do much towards
this end. Because of the difficulty of recruiting
adequate staff to undertake conservative treatment we
must therefore concentrate more and more on prevention.
Years of patient campaigning regarding the protective
value of immunisation saw the steady decline of diphtheria
to almost vanishing point. This, in its turn, created
apathy and to a reduction in immunisation rates. The
result 5 cases, 1 death and 74 carriers. This speaks
for itself. The infection was fortunately confined to two
schools, but only these schools know what havoc the effort
to contain its spread can cause to scheduled time-tables.
This small epidemic, described in brief in the report, is
s salutary reminder of the need for constant vigilance.
We were more fortunate with other epidemic diseases.
These showed slight reductions from previous years.
The report has an account of the use of Freeze Dried
B. C. G. Vaccine, which is now used as a routine for the
vaccination of school-children, and the end of our
participation in the Tuberculosis Vaccine Trials by the
Medical Research Council. The latter shows quite clearly
the benefits of B. C. G. Vaccination.
I am.
Your obedient Servant,
M. WATKINS,
Borough School Medical Officer.