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teeth and that 28.9 per cent. had four or more carious teeth,
while 7.3 per cent. were suffering from oral sepsis, and yet of
the total number of those suffering from dental defects only
about 4 per cent. received treatment. On the one hand it is
extremely difficult to get the parents to see the importance of
treatment and, on the other hand, the majority of them cannot
afford to spend money on what they regard as a necessary evil,
in addition to which a certain number of the parents have a
great reluctance to submitting their children to anything which
may cause pain.
One case may be quoted as an instance of the troubles
arising from septic tooth. A child was brought to the school
clinic on June 26th, with an abscess in the jaw and suppuration
under the tooth socket with pus oozing out between the
teeth and the jaw, and the whole condition would have been
remedied at once by the removal of the tooth. Immediate
removal of the tooth was advised but the statement was made
that the child had been advised by a doctor that the tooth
could not be taken out until the abscess had healed. As the
child was apparently under treatment she was referred to her
doctor. The following week the child failed to attend at the
School Clinic and a fortnight later a message was received
from the parents that they could not afford to go to a doctor,
that the father and mother were out of work, and that they
wanted a hospital letter, thereupon the child was referred to
the Invalid Children's Aid Association whose record was as
follows, from which it will be seen that two months were spent
and nothing accomplished.
14/7/13.—Recommended child being taken to Guy's Hospital
(no letter necessary).
26/7/13.—Has not gone to Hospital. School Nurse has
called in the meantime and recommended child
being taken to the Belgrave Hospital. Mrs.
A. promises to take her next Wednesday.
16/8/13.—Out.
18/8/13.—Has not been. Saw father who promised to
take her this week.
23/8/13.—Out. Saw child who said V. had not been to
Hospital.
25/8/13.—Promises to take her to doctor to-night.
6/9/13.—Still not been. Gave mother severe talking to.
13/9/13.—Nothing done. Excuse now is no money.
At this time the child's mouth was extremely foul, the
breath very offensive, and nothing being done to the abscess
which was discharging externally, except for the application
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