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6
MEDICAL TREATMENT.
Re-examinations.
Although the number of re-examinations made has again been
increased, it is quite impracticable to keep pace with the new cases.
The figures in Table IV. as to the cases untreated and treated
(remedied, improved, etc.) relate therefore only to a minority of
the cases on the records, and may be quite fallacious as an index
to the amount of treatment actually sought. As in last year's
report, a number of the slighter defects have been noted as " improved
" and written off, although 110 specific information has been
obtained as to their having had treatment. It may be doubted
whether the labour spent on re-examination work produces or can
produce any commensurate results in the absence of some power
to enforce treatment for proved defects, at any rate where facilities
are provided by the local authority for the treatment of such defects.
Although, probably for the reasons indicated above, the figures
show a slight improvement in the amount of treatment sought in
dental and in throat, nose and ear cases, there is evidence of a
considerable deficiency especially as regards the former. I must
theiefore endorse the opinion expressed by my predecessor in his
report for 1914, that there is great need of a dental clinic in the
district.
TREATMENT AT SCHOOL CLINICS.
Defective Vision.
12 sessions have been held at the Alexandra School Clinic by
Dr. A. E. Looseley, the Ophthalmologist. Glasses were prescribed
in 80 cases (59 cases discovered at routine inspection, and 21
specially referred), and in five other cases glasses were found not
to be required, or to be useless on account of other defects.
Ringworm.
Seven sessions have been held at the Alexandra School Clinic
by Dr. D. Arthur, the Radiographer. Fourteen cases of Ringworm
of the Scalp have been treated. The cure of the chronic cases
has practically stamped out this disease, and the occurrence of
fresh cases is now very rare.