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51
The main deficiencies in the service are:—
1. The absence of a consultant physician.
2. The lack of hospital beds for observation and treatment.
3. The lack of adequate facilities for the provision of clothing
and shoes for the poor children.
4. Lack of sufficient convalescent places with the closure of the
residential open air school, Hayling Island.
In spite of these deficiencies the establishment of this service has
been most useful in determining the incidence of rheumatism in the
area, and giving decisions on doubtful cases.
To tackle the problem of juvenile rheumatism efficiently in this
area, there is need for a well co-ordinated "Rheumatism Scheme"
such as operates in the London County Council area, including a
supervisory centre in charge of a consultant physician and facilities
for treatment, where required, in special residential schools.
Minor Ailments: Penicillin.
A useful addition to our pharmaceutical armamentarian in the
Minor Ailments Clinic is penicillin. Many cases have been treated
and a review of the first 109 cases treated, as summarised below
shows 93.6 per cent cures. Three of the 7 who did not re-act to
treatment were cases of ringworm, upon which penicillin is known
usually to have no effect, and was being tried out experimentally.