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During this period the boys were examined by the same medical officer, and the girls
by the same medical officer except during the last two years. Some years ago the Ministry
of Education sought the advice of the Faculty of Ophthalmologists on this subject and the
following are some extracts from their recommendationss-
(a) It is desirable that all children should be tested for colour vision some
time during their school career.
(b) Primarily, all children should be tested by the Ishihara method in good daylight,
and all failures should be re-tested by a lantern test.
(c) Ahy child who is colour blind should not be regarded as a disabled person."
The standard School Medical Record Card (10M) has a space for the recording of
"colour vision" and the school-leaving medical report to the Youth Employment Service also
notes this subject and if the child is defective the medical officer indicates that the
pupil should not enter any occupation involving normal colour vision. Defective colour
vision does not render a child disabled under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act,
VISUAL SURVEY, A special visual survey was carried out under the auspices of the
Royal College of Surgeons by Professor Arnold Sorsby and his co-workers at the Public
Hall, Canning Town, during the years 1948 ana 1949. The work of this survey was referred
to in the Annual Reports of those years and an evaluation of the findings was recorded in
the Report for the year 1951. Further information resulting from the survey has been
reported by Professor Sorsby in an article entitled "Incidence of Defects in Visual Function
in Children and Adults" in the British Journal of Preventive and Social Medicine, January
1955• The conclusions to be drawn from this report so far as they affect the School Health
Service are that the present systems of visual testing does succeed in detecting and bringing
under control virtually all the defects which, in our present state of knowledge, are of
practical importance} but that further advances may be possible, after investigation, in
the detailed assessment of visual function for special occupational tasks and in the
amelioration of other visual disabilities which are not at present usually assessed. If
developments of these kinds become possible they might ultimately require some extensions
of the school eye services, but for the present the arrangements seem well adapted to
their purpose.
REPORT ON THE WORK OF THE AURAL CLINICS
by
C.J.Scott, M.B., Ch.B., D.L.O.
During the year, attendances were up to average at West Ham Lane clinic and below
average at Rosetta Clinic.
Children requiring operation were admitted to Whipps Cross Hospital, and the follow-up
after operation continued at the clinics in the Borough. This arrangement is most satisfactory
for the parents and allows for a close study of the result of operation. I am happy to report
marked reduction in the number of chronic ears in the Borough.
Perhaps the greatest value of these clinics is in the early recognition and treatment
of deafness in children and it is only in clinics of this type that this important work can
be carried out. Close study and follow up £s essential. An Audiology Wiit was inaugurated
in May at Maybury Road Clinic, Plaistow. This unit meets once a month and is now working
smoothly. It is hoped in this way to detect deafness in very young children and to institute
early treatment and supervision. In all, I would say that 1955 has been a good year.
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