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It may be, however, that a working standard could be taken
which would catch the early myopes, e.g. all children whose vision
is decreased by 4 or 5 Snellen lines to be refracted. The Committee
of Inquiry may have information which would indicate
what is the importance of the varying diminution of vision after
the addition of a + 1 sphere.
I have submitted my figures to the Board of Education and
am awaiting their guidance before endeavouring to follow up cases
by refraction. Meanwhile, childern are continuing to be tested
with a + 1 sphere in the schools, so that further figures will
shortly be available.
E. L. ROBERTS,
Assistant School Medical Officer.
(g). Ear Disease and Hearing.
One hundred and fifty-six cases of deafness or ear disease
were dealt with at the School Clinics, and 5 were treated by private
arrangement of the parents.
(h). Dental Defects.
The Dental Surgeon's Report on the work of the Dental
Clinic is given on pages 50 to 59.
(i). Crippling Defects and Orthopaedics.
Although handicapped by the absence of an official scheme
for the treatment of crippling defects, we have nevertheless been
able to secure expert advice for such cases as have required it.
This is entirely due to the kindness of the Royal National Orthopaedic
Hospital, where 56 cases from this area have been seen as
out-patients during the year. In addition 5 children have received
in-patient treatment at the Hospital, and 5 at the country branch
at Brockley Hill, Stanmore, 4 of whom were in Hospital at the
end of the year.
It is proposed to draw up a definite scheme for the treatment
of orthopaedic defects in the near future.
9. OPEN AIR EDUCATION
There is no open air school in the district; the only open air
education being comparatively few classes held in the playgrounds
during the summer.