[Report 1933] / School Medical Officer of Health, Essex County Council.

  • Essex County Council
Date:
1933
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1933] / School Medical Officer of Health, Essex County Council. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    12/38 (page 10)
    Arrangements have continued satisfactorily except in one or two areas where extra staff is necessary. A more complete routine examination of the feet has brought to notice more minor defects. (ii) Dental Treatment. 'I'herc has been a definite improvement in this work with a conse- quent increase of healthy mouths and reduction in the number showing unhealthy tonsils. The initiation of a fidl-tiine dental .service is considered an advantage. Parents are taking a greater interest in their children’s teeth as shown by the records of sale of dentifrice and tooth brushes. 'I'lie poor condition of the teeth in entrants is unfavourably com- mented on, indicating that more efforts must be made to cater for the child of pre-school age. Parents should be stimulated to obtain complete dental treatment for tlieir children and not be satisfied by the extraction of a painful tooth. There is still, on the part of some parents, a reluctance to present their child for conservative treatment. (iii) Eye Clinics. These have shown a continued good attendance. (iv) Tonsils and Adenoids Operations. A more conservative action in regard to these operations appears to be fully justified. (v) Nutrition. In si)ite of continued economic difficulties, the nutrition of the children on the whole appears satisfactory, but there are a certain uuiu- ber who fall below the desired standard and for these the provision of free milk is a welcome innovation. Hiinilarly, the provision of meals in certain areas has been most hel])ful. Comment is made that the elementary school child in many ca.ses does not have sufficient rest and it is suggested that if a rest could be arranged during the ilinner periotl it would be very helpful. The practice of children wearing gymnasium shoes all day is depre- cated. Mothers are taking a i)ractical interest in the varied values of food.