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The percentage of children requiring some dental treatment
is still very large. There is undoubtedly though, an improvement
in the condition of the children's teeth, not very many requiring
really extensive treatment.
It is uphill work persuading the parents and children to
accept treatment, especially conservative treatment, one mother
stating that she did not believe in the children being forced to have
treatment, while another stated that she knew what was best for
the child's health (when it was pointed out that carious teeth had
a bad effect on health). It is, of course, really the children who
rule the home, and who decide whether they will have treatment
or not.
So it is the Head Teachers and Class Teachers who have
the greatest influence in persuading the children to accept treatment.
I should like to take the opportunity of thanking all the
Head Teachers and Class Teachers for their very great help and
courtesy.
(h) ORTHOPAEDIC AND POSTURAL DEFECTS.
All cases found to require treatment are advised to go to
Hospital. The Authority have an arrangement with a local
Children's Hospital for Orthopaedic In-Patient and Out-Patient
treatment, and undertake financial responsibility for all such cases
sent there. The Committee also from time to time maintain
special cases at Orthopaedic Hospital Schools approved by the
Board. (See Table IV., Group IV., of the Appendix.)
Any children found with minor Postural defects are noted on
the Special Confidential list left with Head Teachers. Recommendations
regarding any definite exercises and forms of drill are
given according to the nature of the defect.
(i) HEART DISEASE AND RHEUMATISM.
There is no special Clinic for the treatment of Heart Disease
and Rheumatism. Children found at Routine Inspections and
special examinations, and cases referred through private practitioners
and Hospitals are examined by the Chief Assistant School
Medical Officer, and those cases found to require periods of stay
at Heart Hospital Schools, etc., are recommended accordingly,
the Committee accepting responsibility for maintenance.
(j) TUBERCULOSIS.
All definite cases of Tuberculosis found by Assistant School
Medical Officers are notified to the Medical Officer of Health.
Suspicious cases are always referred to the Tuberculosis Officer
for examination and report. The number of cases so referred
amounted to 101.
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