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In a few cases of Impetigo, the diphtheria bacillus has been found,
suspicion being aroused by the condition of the nose.
5f. External Eye Disease, excluding Squint, practically
resolves itself into Blepharitis and Conjunctivitis, many of these latter
being of the phlyctenular variety.
5g. Defects of Vision.—In Table IV it is seen that 731
children were referred for further examination; this figure includes 69
cases of Squint given in Table II. Any child seeing less than 6/12 with
one or both eyes, and children with better vision but with frequent
headaches and no obvious cause are advised to secure this further
examination.
5h. Deafness and Ear Disease is unfortunately too
prevalent, as instanced by the figures in Table II. Both are more
prevalent in the schools in the poorer area, and can, I think rightly, be
ascribed to neglect of nasal hygiene. Handkerchief drill is of real value
in the prevention of these serious disabilities.
5i. Dental Defects.—As the result of routine inspection it was
found that, of the entrants, only 17.3 per cent. of the boys and 26.1 per
cent. of the girls were free from dental caries; of the leavers the
corresponding figures are 27.9 per cent. and 32 per cent. These
figures include those children who have had extractions of bad teeth,
and so does not represent those who have a perfect denture. Table
IV "D" gives further particulars as to the age group of those treated at
the Clinic. The condition of the temporary teeth in the younger
children is very unsatisfactory; sepsis is very common and unfortunately
is rarely associated with pain—hence, no notice is taken of such
teeth and it—the absence of pain—is frequently used as a protest by
the mother when advised to seek dental treatment.
Referring to the same table it will be seen that 77 per cent. of the
temporary teeth treated had to be extracted. There is no doubt that
dental sepsis in these young children is a great detriment to health;
the enamel of the permanent teeth underlying may suffer; enlargement
of tonsils and submaxillary glands result, sometimes with invasion of
the latter by the tubercle bacillus; when pus is constantly being
swallowed with the food, impaired appetite and deranged digestion may
occur, and in a fair proportion of these cases one can find a dilated
heart with the consequent symptoms of tiredness, etc.
For this reason and because the number of school children is too
great for one dentist, children over 9 years are not treated by the
School Dentist, unless the case is urgent or there is some special
reason, usually financial.
Unfortunately one meets with a good deal of parental opposition to
dental treatment, why, I don't know, unless it is ignorance of the value
of good teeth, and this opposition is not so much active as passive.
The mother readily promises to see a dentist or to come to the Clinic,
but fails to do so; in some cases an appointment is made for dental
treatment at the Clinic, but both patient and mother fail to appear. In
F