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"total survey" must be temporarily postponed. Meanwhile,
the audiometer testing of any children found with, or suspected of
defective hearing, is being done and this in itself is a very considerable
help.
The general health and nutrition of the children seen at the
clinics during the year was very satisfactory. The provision of
school meals, milk, tonics, etc., has been a very valuable factor
in maintaining the good general health of the school population.
A classified Table of Returns is appended, setting out the various
conditions found (with any accompanying-complications), the nature
of the treatment given, and the results. We find such a comprehensive
Table useful in comparing the different years' working of
the clinics.
Ophthalmic Clinic.
Mr. T. W. Letchworth, M.D., F.R.C.S., reports as follows:—
1,978 children and young people were seen. Of this number
178 had left school, but were under the age of nineteen. Most of
these were myopes. It will be possible henceforth to keep any who
may desire it, under observation, with the help of the National
Ophthalmic Treatment Board scheme, a centre for which is being
established at Tottenham.
292 of the children were suffering from strabismus, and it is
satisfactory that we can get these children early, before the school
age, as the earlier we can treat them the more hope there is of cure.
There is, unfortunately, one circumstance. The children are
not taught the letters of the alphabet and many cannot name them
till they are seven.
This makes the recognition of amblyopia much more difficult,
and results in many more eyes remaining amblyopic than would
otherwise be the case.
Another cause of this failure is the frequent neglect of the parents
to attend when requested, or to carry out the instructions given.
I believe under the new Act there will be increased difficulty in
enforcing attendance when it is necessary.