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23
withdraw their help at any time it will be absolutely
impossible to maintain the After-Care Clinic without
additional assistance.
The local treatment scheme at Tilbury Hospital
for the removal of tonsils and adenoids continued very
satisfactorily during the year. Owing to the small
number of patients who can be operated upon at one
session a long waiting list has been inevitable and a
large number of extra Clinics have been held, and my
thanks are due to the authorities of Tilbury Hospital
for their readiness is granting the use of the operating
theatre.
The Refraction Clinic brought some regrettable
facts to my notice. Over-study, reading by artificial
light and excessive homework were responsible for many
cases of eyestrain, and this was particularly noticeable
amongst scholarship students and pupils of the higher
grade schools. Education gained at the expense of eyesight
is dearly bought.
In my report for the year 1930 I commented upon
the necessity of Clinic facilities to serve the eastern
portion of the district. In the Stanford-le-Hope and
Corringham district there is a school population of
nearly 2,000, and the nearest Clinic is quite five miles
away. Travelling facilities in the more rural parts are
poor and the necessity for going into Grays for treatment
is both expensive and inconvenient. Complaints
in the matter are frequent, and not, I must admit,
without justification. The population of the district
continues to grow and employment is not such that
they can afford regular journeys into Grays. I sincerely
hope that some attention will be given to this question
in 1932.