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10
During the year under review, 177 cases were referred for
treatment. In all, 187 cases were treated (10 of these being cases
referred from the previous year), and in 134 cases glasses were
prescribed. Actually 134 children obtained glasses. Arrangements
have been made whereby the glasses can be purchased by the parents
from a local optician at a contract rate.
The Education Committee pays the whole or part of the cost
of glasses in necessitious cases.
Dental Treatment. During the year 2,061 children were
inspected by the Dental Surgeon, and 1,475 were referred for treatment.
In addition 234 were referred for treatment from the
inspections of the School Medical Officer, or were sent up to the
Clinic by Head Teachers, making a total of 1,709 as compared with
1,352 in 1938.
It will be noted that 1,475 children were found to require
treatment and 1,511 were actually treated during the year. This
latter number includes all those children out of the 1,475 who
accepted the offer of treatment and who were actually treated,
together with over 36 children inspected during 1938 but unable
to have their treatment carried out during that year. It also includes
casual cases (sent up by parents or teachers), generally on account of
toothache.
A branch of the dental work not mentioned in the Table on
page 22 is Treatment for Regulation. The number of cases treated
only for Regulation during the year was 40 and 53 were treated
partly for Regulation. In the years 1932-39 inclusive 803 children
have had dental treatment for Regulation only.
When it is found necessary to extract several teeth, a general
anesthetic is given, either Nitrous Oxide Gas or Ethyl Chloride.
A special Dental Clinic is held once a week for this purpose, and the
School Medical Officer administers the anaesthetics.
During 1939 I administered anaesthetics to 620 children, as
compared with 567 in 1938.