View report page

of the N.S.P.C.C. was of the greatest help in dealing with these
parents, and in every case spectacles were ultimately obtained.
Six children were referred from the Refraction Clinic to
hospital for further treatment. These children were found to be
suffering from the following defects:—
Choroiditis 1
Keratitis 2
Cataract 1
Trichiasis 1
Squint (Operative Treatment) 1
One hundred and fifteen children with external eye diseases
received treatment at the Health Centre. A few of the more
serious cases were referred to the Oculist at the Refraction Clinic.
Many of these children require daily treatment over fairly long
periods. As in the case of many other minor ailments it is very
difficult for a great number of the parents to carry out this treatment
adequately at home. At the Health Centre it is done by the
school nurses under the guidance of one of the Medical Staff.
If the children are irregular in their attendance they are followed
up at home. These defects are consequently more rapidly
rectified and a considerable gain in school attendance results.
The Education Committee have an arrangement with the
Nelson Hospital whereby school children suffering from eye
disease are admitted for in-patient treatment at a cost of three
shillings per day.
No child required treatment under this arrangement in 1933.
(e) Nose and Throat Defects. Forty-one children were
operated on for enlarged tonsils and adenoids during 1933 at the
Nelson and North Wimbledon Hospitals under the Education
Committee's scheme. These patients remain in hospital overnight
after their operations. The children are examined by the
Medical Officer at the Health Centre before they return to
school. In addition, two other children were operated on for
enlarged tonsils and adenoids by private practitioners or at the
voluntary hospitals. This makes a total of forty-three children
who received surgical treatment. It will thus be seen that
fifty-two fewer children were submitted to operation for the
removal of tonsils and adenoids during 1933 as compared with
the previous year.
Full details are outlined in Table IV., Group III.
(f) Ear Disease and Defective Hearing. Ninety-eight children
with minor ear defects were treated at the Health Centre.
Most of these cases were suffering from otorrhoea, wax in the
103