[Report 1938] School Medical Officer of Health, Canterbury Borough / City & County.

  • Canterbury (England). City & County Council.
Date:
1938
Catalogue details

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

Credit: [Report 1938] School Medical Officer of Health, Canterbury Borough / City & County. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    of the child has been noted. Three cases received operative treatment apart from the Authority’s scheme. Eleven cases received other forms of treatment. It must be impressed upon parents that diseased tonsils may be the first step to serious ill- health, heart disease, rheumatism and countless other complaints. In many cases these complaints owe their origin to the fact that the tonsils have formed such an excellent base for the operations of germs of all descriptions. As to whether the slight operation involved in their removal should be undergone is a question upon which the advice of the Doctor should be taken. (c) Tuberculosis. Cases of tuberculosis or suspected tuberculosis are referred to the Tuberculosis Dispensary, where Dr. Robson, the Tubercu- losis Officer, recommends what treatment is necessary and the children are kept under observation by him. Three children of school age were treated at Holt Sanatorium during the year. The Alford Aid Society have again rendered valuable assist- ance in sending debilitated children to Convalescent Homes. (d) Skin Diseases. The commonest skin disease which is found amongst the children is impetigo. It is unusual now7 to find severe cases of impetigo, because the teachers promptly refer incipient cases to the Clinic, and they are rapidly cured by suitable treatment. The majority of skin complaints are treated at the School Clinic, but cases can be referred to the Kent and Canterbury Hospital, where necessary, for diagnosis and treatment. (e) External Eye Disease and Defective Vision. Simple external eye diseases are treated at the School Clinic, doubtful cases and severe forms of eye disease are referred to the Ophthalmic Surgeon at the Kent and Canterbury Hospital under the Authority’s scheme. One hundred and eighty-two cases of defective vision or squint were referred to the Ophthalmic Surgeon, and for 169 of these children spectacles w7ere prescribed. Twelve children obtained spectacles privately. All the children ordered glasses by the School Occulist obtained them during the year. A Clinic for Ophthalmic cases is held when necessary (usually fortnightly) and the Dispensing Optician attends in order to take measurements for the spectacles when they have been prescribed. Apart from the cases referred by the School Medical Officer at the routine inspections, a certain number of children outside the routine groups are treated, being referred to the School Medical Officer by the Head Teachers who have detected some eye trouble.