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(g) EAR DISEASE AND HEARING.
These conditions are usually treated at the four Clinics
under the Committee's Scheme. There are two reasons that lead
to this result. Firstly, some of the affections, such as cerumen
(wax) are so slight, parents do not deem it necessary to call
in the family doctor, and the other conditions, such as
otorrhoea, are usually of a very chronic nature, and therefore
expensive for prolonged private treatment.
The Clinic has a special value in these cases in this
respect. The sooner ear discharges are attended to, the more
easily are they responsive to treatment, whereas a longneglected
otorrhoea is equally prolonged in its treatment, to
say nothing of the damage accruing to the sense of hearing.
A large amount of deafness is due to the presence of adenoids,
and finds its remedy in the operative treatment of that condition.
Table IV., Group I., gives the relative amount of treatment
undertaken at the Clinics and privately.
(h) DENTAL DEFECTS.
The dental defects, such as septic teeth, found at routine
and special Medical Inspections in the Schools are referred to
the School Dentists if falling within the scope of the
Authority's Dental Scheme, otherwise they are referred for
private or Hospital treatment.
The scheme approved by the Board comprises the 6-8
years' period, together with a few special cases of an urgent
nature at other ages. Under the latter head figure all prospective
candidates for the Open Air School, for, as mentioned in my
last report, these cases do not do so well as their colleagues
as lone: as their mouths are in a septic condition. There are
three Dental Clinics, two at Stratford and one at Canning
Town. Under the scheme some 16,164 children were inspected,
together with 1,794 "specials," Of these 7,933 were
found to require treatment, and 6,912 were actually treated.
The following remarks and comments are abstracted from the
individual reports of the Dental Surgeons.
Mr. Percy writes: —
The Dental Inspection has now been carried out long
enough for its necessity to be thoroughly appreciated by all.
and the co-operation of the Teachers we much appreciate and
look for at all times.