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53
the schools to become progressively more free of verminous and
Scabies cases. Recently, however, the schools are not so satisfactory
as they were in former years, and this I attribute largely
to the want of a Cleansing Depot, without which cases cannot
be satisfactorily treated, nor can statutory action be taken against
parents who wilfully and habitually offend.
External Eye Disease.
(e) Cases of external eye disease, consisting mainly of Conjunctivitis,
Blepharitis, and Corneal Ulcer, are treated at the
general clinics, where scholars may attend daily. Cases requiring
special examination or treatment are referred to the Eye Specialist.
Vision.
(/) All cases of suspected defective vision are in the first
instance examined by the School Medical Officer, who decides
whether they shall be sent to the Eye Specialist for further
examination. For further details see special Eye Report, page
68.)
Ear Disease.
(g) In common with other districts, East Ham has had to
face the problem of treating a vast amount of ear disease—mostly
of the chronic type—amongst school children. With a view to
securing the best results possible, the Education Committee appointed,
in September, Dr. Chubb as Aural Surgeon to attend for
one session weekly. This is a distinct step forward, and though
the beneficial results of his work will not show immediately owing
to the extremely chronic and intractable nature of the disease in
question, there can be no doubt that the institution of this
specialist service will be an immense boon to the children of the
Borough.
In order to make the most of Dr. Chubb's services only the
more serious cases are referred to him. All cases of ear disease
or deafness are first examined by the Assistant School Medical
Officer, who at once treats the simpler cases and sends the more
serious ones to the specialist. In this way it is possible to keep
abreast of the work to avoid a waiting list and to give every
case immediate attention. In many of the cases seen owing to
their chronicity nothing more than some amelioration of the
diseased condition can be hoped for, but even this is of prime