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This is a decrease over last year's figures. During the post-war years there has been a
steady decrease in attendances, with the exception of 1951, as the following figures shows-
1946 41,746
1947 38,443
1948 36,165
1949 33,221
1950 28,605
1951 32,248
1952 26,160
1953 22,011
1954 18,760
1955 17,751
These welcome reductions may be attributed to a decline in the incidence of many of the
conditions commonly treated at minor ailment clinics, as mentioned when dealing with
ringworm, scabies, minor eye and ear diseases, and perhaps also to an increasing tendency
to use the services of the private practitioner and the hospitals which are available
{
through the National Health Service,
SCABIES. The incidence of scabies remains low. In recent years there has been a
general reduction in the number of children with this disease. Six cases were discovered
this year as compared with one case in 1954, This gives rates of 0.02 and 0.003 per cent
of the school population. The incidence in 1954 was the lowest ever recorded.

REPORT ON THE WORK OF THE OPHTHALMIC CLINIC
by
Miss A.A.S.Russell, M.B., Ch.B., D.P.H., D.O.M.S.
The work of the ophthalmic clinic continued as in previous years. As usual a large
number of refractions were carried out and 1,475 pairs of glasses were ordered, but many
more children were examined who either had suitable glasses or did not require them.
In addition to the children having a full eye examination, many others are reinspected
and many children make several attendances. The total number of attendances during the year
was 6,336 and of these 5,303 were made by school children and 1,033 by children under school
age.
Children were admitted to whipps Cross Hospital for operative treatment where such was
necessary and during the year 57 squint operations were performed on children from the West
Ham clinic; 17 of these were on children under school age. The results of operation combined
with treatment in the Orthoptic department were very satisfactory.
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