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only 20 irradiations, but recurrences in this disease are so
common that it is probable she will return for another course.
One case of tuberculous abscess in a boy of 13 was healed after
31 irradiations; one of old tuberculous caries (30 irradiations)
greatly improved. (This boy, 7 years of age, put on 4½ lbs.
during the three-months course.)
The results in the very large majority of those who attended
regularly have been excellent on the whole; the disappointments
have almost invariably been connected with those making
irregular attendances or leaving off prematurely. This, however,
was much more marked in the case of the under-five group. The
attendances of the school children have on the whole been good.
FOLLOWING-UP. This is a very important branch of the
work of the school nurses, without which a good deal of the
value of inspection and treatment would be lost. The homes of
all children who fail to keep appointments for treatment, or who
lapse before treatment is completed, are visited to find the reason,
and if possible to secure that the necessary treatment is
obtained. In other cases a child is followed up after treatment
to ensure that progress is maintained. In all, the school nurses
paid 6,351 home visits for this purpose during the year.
SCHOOL DENTAL SERVICE. The following report is
submitted by Mr. J. S. Dick, L.D.S., Acting Senior School
Dental Officer, Mr. J. Aitchison having left the service before
the compilation of the Annual Report.
At the commencement of 1946 there were four whole-time
Dental Officers and one senior Dental Officer engaged in the
work of dental inspection and treatment of school children. After
the summer vacation two more Dental Officers were appointed,
making seven in all, but still two short of the minimum required
All school children, including those attending the special
schools, were inspected and offered treatment, where found to be
necessary.
The acceptance rate for complete dental treatment continued
to improve, but it is not yet high enough, as shown by the
number of special (emergency) cases that attend for treatment
without an appointment.
The waiting list for orthodontic treatment remains long, and
will do so until more Dental Officers (two having recently left)
are appointed, thus allowing those officers who specialise in this
treatment to devote a larger number of sessions at the orthodontic
clinic. During the year there were 1,860 visits for orthodontic
treatment, 125 cases discharged, and treatment was begun
on 149 new cases. In addition to orthodontic appliances, 38
dentures, 4 crowns and 2 inlays were made in the laboratory.
The long-awaited X-ray portable unit arrived "during the
latter half of the year, and one Dental Officer is responsible for
its operation and for the guidance of other officers wishing to
use it themselves. It is of inestimable value when required, and
especially for orthodontic cases.
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