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19
Ear Disease.
Middle ear disease, resulting often in long continued
discharge from the ears, remains the most unsatisfactory ailment
dealt with at the School Clinic. Only a few slight cases are cured,
in others the discharge ceases for a time, to begin again later. In
many, the treatment is merely palliative, the cells of the mastoid
bone are already infected, 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.
Continuous suppuration of the middle ear always causes
impairment of hearing, and further affects the general health of
the child.
Considerable loss of attendance at school is caused by this
ailment, and when in school the child does not benefit to the full
by the education provided. Ionization seems to offer one of the
best forms of treatment for early cases. Unfortunately such treatment
is not at present available in this district, and parents often
find it difficult to take the children to London.
Eye Disease.
34 Cases of Eye Disease have been treated at 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 287 children referred for treatment, 44 received treatment
either privately or through a hospital, whilst 23 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
from the parents in accordance with the following scale:—