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11
The difficulties of arranging the scheme, as pointed out in last
year's report, were shown in the letter which governed the agreement
with the Royal Dental Hospital.
One of the most difficult points in completing the scheme was
assessing what would be a fair payment for the parent to make.
The figures given in the Dental Surgeon's report, showing that
there is a balance in hand of £30 at the end of the year to finish
the treatment of cases begun, would seem to indicate that our flat
rate estimate of 37/- which includes the 12/- we pay the Royal
Dental Hospital, was a wise one.
I wish specially to pay a great tribute of thanks to the patience
displayed by Mr. H. R. Evans of the Royal Dental Hospital in the
negotiations. It is certainly right to say that had it not been for him
there would have been no satisfactory scheme in existence. 1 also
wish to emphasize one other factor which contributed largely to the
success of the scheme, namely, the clarity of the reports of the
Dental Surgeons who have seen the patients.
There is only one note of warning. As a public authority, it is
necessary to watch that enthusiasm does not outstrip judgment, and
that cases which can be dealt with by a few judicious extractions to
improve the condition, shall not be subjected to prolonged treatment
which is cosmetic rather than utilitarian.''1 At the same time it must
be understood that in certain cases of gross deformity the cosmetic
result is of enormous importance to the patient. Such a scheme
as this is only possible in or near large towns with established
Dental Hospitals, otherwise there would appear to be no alternative
but to have a peripatetic consultant visiting various clinics or
schools with the patients assembled for that particular purpose,
and even then the possibility of radiographic and pathologcial
reports seems remote, if not out of the question.
A further interesting point has emerged from the orthodontic
work, which is that it has been the greatest advertisement of the
Dental Clinic we have had. The radiographs and models are impressing
the parents that the Dental Clinic is in a really scientific
manner attempting to deal with the dental defects and diseases that
afflict the children in our schools.
2 CO-ORDINATION.
The administrative work of the School Medical Service is
carried out in the Health Department under the supervision of the
School Medical Officer who is also Medical Officer of Health with
charge of the Council's scheme for Maternity and Child Welfare