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13
Ear Disease.
The treatment of discharging ears, occupies a very large
portion of the time of the Nurses at the Treatment Clinics. There
is no more unsatisfactory class of case to deal with than this.
Their treatment necessitates daily careful work which can only
be carried out properly by a nurse. In many of these cases the
conditions are long standing and there is already infection of the
mastoid cells and nothing short of a fairly severe operation is
going to permanently cure the condition. So long as this
condition persists, the child is always in danger, in that any
minute, any further extension of the disease to the upper plate
of bone covering the inner ear, may lead to suppuration within
the brain cavity and death.
The number given 68, does not by any means exhibit the
total number of cases existing in the schools, as a large number
with a small amount of discharge, regard the matter of no
importance and are not discovered until Routine or Medical
Inspection, or some complaint brings the matter to notice. A
very large proportion of these cases suffering from ear trouble,
can be cured in the early stage by ionization but unfortunately,
treatment is not available in the district, and it is difficult to
induce many of the parents to take their children into the centre
ot London, as owing to the present prevailing unemployment, they
cannot afford the necessary fare.
Eye Disease.
25 cases of Eye Disease have been treated at the School Clinics.
These have been chiefly Conjunctivitis, Blepharitis, with some
Phylctenular and Corneal Ulcers, and suppurative conditions of
the lids.
Tonsils and Adenoids.
Out of 122 children referred for treatment, 56 received treatment
either privately or through a hospital, whilst 17 were treated
under the Education Authority's scheme. Arrangements have been
in force since 1921, whereby children requiring operative treatment
for enlarged tonsils and adenoids, can obtain this either at the
Hounslow or Richmond Hospital, the Education Committee
accepting all responsibility for the fee. Re-payments are claimed
trom the parents in accordance with the following scale: —