[Report 1917] / Principal School Medical Officer of Health, Warwickshire County Council.

  • Warwickshire (England). County Council.
Date:
1917
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1917] / Principal School Medical Officer of Health, Warwickshire County Council. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    30. As a result of the action of the Education Committee in providing Hospital tickets for the treatment of Defective Vision, at the Birmingham and Midland Eye Hospital and at the Warneford General Hospital, Leamington, many cases have been treated without delay, during the latter part of the year, who might otherwise have been neglected, possibly for months. It is anticipated that with a continuance of these facilities the treatment of Defective Vision in the coming year will be carried out even more efficiently than formerly. 31. Enlarged Tonsils and Adenoids. Of oil cases of Enlarged Tonsils and Adenoids, 279 received Medical advice. 157 of these were operated upon and 232 received no treatment whatever. It is to be regretted that so many cases escape operative treatment at a time when such is, in many instances, urgently needed. The cases which escape treatment are mostly in the Atherstone and Tamworth Rural Districts and in the Urban District of Rugby. In the Northern part of the County, the Birmingham Hospitals appear to be the only ones available for the operative treatment of Adenoids. It is difficult to obtain treatment in Birmingham at the present time, owing to the depleted Staffs of the Hospitals, the increased cost of Railway Travelling, and the difficulty Parents have in sparing the time from Munition work or other work of National importance to take their children to Hospital. 32. The same difficulty is experienced also in other parts of the County. I am pleased to report that at the time of going to print a scheme is in preparation for dealing with those Adenoid cases that are in need of operative treatment, and for which facilities are at present lacking. If such materializes it will be of inestimable value in preventing the development of defects which are so apt to threaten the efficient after-life of the Child. 33. Deafness and Otorrhoea. Ninety-nine cases of Deafness and Otorrhoea, frequent sequelae of Adenoids, were followed up, seventy receiving medical treatment, and 29 no treatment at all. Many of these cases would be non-existent if facilities were given for the operative treatment of Adenoid conditions. The longer these growths remain untreated the more permanent and incurable does the deafness become, the accompanying inflammation of the middle ear being a continual source of danger through possible extension to the Meninges of the Brain. 34. Pulmonary Tuberculosis. One hundred and eight cases of incipient and threatened Pulmonary Tubercu¬ losis were under observation during the year. Medical advice was obtained in 106 cases, only two remaining untreated at the end of the year. During actual Medical Inspection only five cases of undoubted Pulmonary Tuberculosis were discovered, while 45 cases were recorded in which the disease was suspected. 35. While considerable delay was experienced in obtaining the admission of Tuberculous children to Bramcote Sanatorium, owing to the limited number of beds at the disposal of uninsured persons and dependents, it is gratifying to report that this deficiency is now being overcome by the provision of additional beds for children at Sanatoria other than Bramcote. 36. It is difficult to say at present what effect the lack of fats in the dietary of children has upon their pre-disposition to Tuberculosis, but there is no doubt that if there is continuance of this deficiency the resistive power of their bodies will be lowered, leading then to a higher incidence of the disease.