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112
In connection with defective sight, 39 children have
obtained glasses, but Notices were sent to 172 cases where
these were required. It is obvious therefore that at present
only a small percentage of children are receiving the treatment
they require.
TREATMENT REQUIRED AND METHODS
AVAILABLE.
This part of the subject is extremely important, and deserves
the most careful consideration. The primary object of Medical
Inspection was to discover to what extent school children suffered
from diseases or defects, which either rendered them unfit to
attend school, or unable to fully benefit by the instruction
given. The necessity for this examination has everywhere
been abundantly proved. From the preceding pages it is
obvious that the most important conditions needing treatment
are:—Adenoids, Enlarged Tonsils, Defective Vision, Dental
Diseases, Ear Disease and Deafness. Then there are a
number of minor conditions such as Skin Diseases, External
Eye Disease, Pediculosis, Diseases of Heart and Lungs, etc,
The treatment of these latter conditions is not expensive,
operations, etc., are not required, and in the majority of cases
the parents can obtain the necessary treatment from their own
medical attendant.
But a totally different state of things exists in connection
with the first-named diseases and defects, and it is these which
are not only the most common, but also the most detrimental
to the child.
Adenoids and Enlarged Tonsils.—These require an operation
for their removal. How many parents in this district
can afford to pay even a guinea or two for this to be done ?
And if, as frequently happens, two or three children in the
same family are affected, the difficulty becomes greater.
Defective Vision.— This needs skilled examination, followed
by the provision of suitable spectacles. Many medical