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Teeth. —Extractions should be undertaken, and later, if
possible, an arrangement should be made for stopping decayed
teeth, as this is very prevalent and productive of serious evils
to health. It will probably be said that a school clinic will be
abused, but this objection applies also to hospital treatment.
I should not treat cases until I was satisfied that the cases
were necessitous. A school clinic would find provision for timely
treatment for many children who are now hopelessly neglected,
thus preventing much loss of attendance at school, for efficient
Medical treatment would be followed by more efficient educational
results.
Cleansing Scheme,—Much good work has been done in
cleansing verminous children at the Cleansing Station at the rear
of the Town Hall, under Section 122 d., Children Act, 1908
The School Nurse is provided with Authority given in
writing by the Education Authority to visit a school and examine
the children. If she finds a child is verminous my attention is
called to the condition and a Notice is sent to the parent,
guardian, or person liable to maintain the said child to cleanse
according to the instructions given. The child is again examined
after a interval of not less than 24 hours' delivery of the
Notice and if still in a verminous or filthy condition a Notice is
served "Authority to remove the child for cleansing." The
child is then brought to the Cleansing Station, cleansed and
bathed, whilst the clothing is disinfected.
In some cases the child's bedroom and bed clothes are
cleansed and disinfected at the same time.
INFECTIOUS DISEASES.
Information concerning notifiable infectious diseases
occurring in school children is sent by the Medical Officer of
Health to all Head Teachers. The teacher notifies the Medical
Officer of Health of all non-notifiable diseases. Precaution
Notices are sent to all cases.
During the past year the following cases occurred amongst
children attending the different elementary schools in the
Borough:—
F