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49
Unfortunately the services of a School Oculist were not available
during the first two months of the year, and therefore it has
been impossible to deal with all the children requiring' treatment.
Of the 1,343 cases referred for treatment 573 have been
treated. It will be appreciated that a further additional session
per week, set aside for the treatment of these cases, would enable
the Authority to overcome arrears of work in this direction.
(g) Ear Disease
375 consultations were given and 292 children were treated at
the General Ear Clinic.
See report of Aural Surgeon, p. G2.
(h) Dental Defects.
I again earnestly approach the Committee to provide more
satisfactory accommodation for the School Dental Clinic.
It is extremely unfortunate that, with the1 staff available at
present, the dental needs of children, above the age of 10 years,
cannot be systematically dealt with.
See repont of Dental Surgeon, pp. G8—71.
(«') Crippling Defects.
The furnishing of satisfactory treatment in the case of children
suffering from crippling defects is a matter of great difficulty,
whilst a very large number of them (see Table 111) cannot attend
the elementary schools and no Physically Defective Centre has
been provided in the Borough. The provision of such a centre
has been the subject of deliberation on many former occasions,
and the Committee are again giving favourable consideration to
the matter. It is hoped that the Board of Education will give it
equally favourable consideration.
Until a year ago greater difficulty was experienced in obtaining
adequate treatment for cases coming under the above heading.
Even where parents were willing and anxious to visit a
London Centre, the expenditure of time and money was found to
be prohibitive, and in most cases treatment was dropped long
before the twisted spine could be straightened or the deformed
limb brought back to normal. During the year, however, the
Balaam Street Children's Hospital, a small and efficient institution
of 24 beds, with a remedial clinic attached, has been opened