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Fifty-one per cent of the children were found to be in satisfactory health and
free from any defect, and in addition there were 15$ in whom there was no defect except
. Tor carious teeth.
Although there are no noteworthy changes from defects found in 1955, it is
unfortunate that there is no decrease in the amount of dental decay.
Health visitors and doctors continue to try to bring home to parents how an
unbalanced diet containing too much starch can have a bad effect on the teeth. The habit
of eating sticky sweets is particularly harmful unless followed by cleaning of the teeth
or at least by rinsing the mouth with water.
The shortage of dentists in the Council's Service makes the task of dental health
education more difficult. Regular inspection and, when necessary, dental treatment of preschool
children, together with chairside individual advice by the dentist would, no doubt,
be more effective.
Jelly Tests for Tuberculosis. At Forest Street Clinic the "pilot scheme" for
offering Jelly tests for all children attending for "birthday examination" has continued
throughout the year. Out of 1,012 examined 823 were tested of which 822 were negative,
-his shows that of the children examined in this age group there was only one who had
boon Infected with tuberculosis. Further investigation of this child confirmed a mild
^r-'£reo °f positivity, but her x-ray was within normal limits, thus indicating that although
-section had been acquired, resistance was good and no treatment was required.