Annual report on the health and medical services of the state of Queensland.

  • Queensland. Department of Health.
Date:
[1945]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Annual report on the health and medical services of the state of Queensland. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    35/44 (page 33)
    The official homes of the school sisters are at the follow¬ ing centres:— Eight stationed in Brisbane and one each at Gympie, Maryborough, Bundaberg, Rockhampton, Towns¬ ville, Cairns,. Ipswich, and Toowoomba. (The recently appointed nursing sisters will shortly be transferred to country centres. The sister in the Cairns district is also engaged to a large extent on Hookworm Campaign duty. This staff is not adequate to maintain a satisfactory and efficient service covering all parts of the State. The war years have made difficult the functioning of the School Health Services. A number of the staff has enlisted and efforts to fill temporarily the vacancies have been unsuccessful. Much work has been accomplished, as the following table bears witness:— Number of children examined by medical officers Number of children notified as defective Number of children treated by private medical practitioners Diseases of tonsils and adenoid overgrowth Other diseases of nose and throat .. .. ” ” Defects of vision .. .. .. .. .. ” Diseases of eyelids .. .. .. .. ’ ’ (’ Squint .. .. .. .. . . .. j ’ Hearing .. .. .. .. \ \ Otorrhoea .. .. .. .. ’' '' '' Heart .. .. .. .. .. ’ ’ ” ‘ ’ Skin diseases .. .. .. .. .. ’ ’ ” Hernia .. .. .. .. .. ' ] ’ j ’ Number of children examined by school sisters— Metropolitan Country .. .. .. .. .. ., Number of children referred to private medical practitioners by country school sisters Number of children treated by private medical practitioners Number of homes visited by school sisters Apparent physical defects discovered by country school sisters and recommended to private medical practitioners for diagnosis and treatment— Tonsils and adenoid overgrowth Vision Affections of eyelids Squint Hearing Otorrhoea Skin diseases Scabies in metropolitan area (treated by school sisters) Number of children found to be vaccinated— In Australia Out of Australia Number of cases of diphtheria in school children— Metropolitan Country Number of schools swabbed Number of pupils swabbed. Number of pupils found to be carriers Percentage of carriers Number of virulent carriers Percentage of virulent carriers Number of cases of scarlet fever in school children— Metropolitan Country .. Number of cases of infantile paralysis in school children Metropolitan Country Inspection and treatment performed by school dental inspectors Number of children dentally examined Number treated Number of extractions Number of fillings Other treatments Treatment at Brisbane Dental Hospital— Number treated Number of extractions Number of fillings Other treatments 8 776 '833 647 547 13 177 5 13 7 9 10 3 32 22,275 15,431 1,573 1,217 1,185 1,167 196 7 12 88 12 51 313 13 74 130 1 661 14 2-12 2 •3 130 154 1 1 29,802 11,134 15,912 20,638 8,207 6,327 22,720 22,582 18,577 The Hookworm Campaign continues to function. It is unlikely that this work will ever cease! to call for, close atten¬ tion. The gradual improvement in water-borne sanitary conveniences and the constant vigilance of local authorities’ health inspectors enables this serious menace to be kept in check. The nomadic aboriginal and other natives tend to disseminate the disease. The Wilson Ophthalmic School Hostel has proved, as heretofore, a boon to school child sufferers from trachoma. This disease is still prevalent in many parts of Western Queensland, and although the grave eye conditions met with sixteen years ago are now rarely seen, there are sufficient cases of the disease to constitute a grave menace to healthy eyes and good vision. The ophthalmic officer attached to the staff of the School Health Services was called up early in the war years, with consequent serious difficulty in seeking out suitable cases for the institution. With a return to peace conditions it is anticipated that he will again be available to continue this important duty. The problem of vermin eradication in schools has been a cause of great anxiety. Due to the thousands of servicemen moving among the population the two pests—scabies and pediculosis—have been present in an ever mounting degree, and the difficulty of procuring satisfactory fine-tooth combs and other means of eradication has added to the worry of parents. During the year experiments have been conducted in supplying eight ounces of malted milk mixture to children at II a.m. The scheme was suggested by a member of the School Health Services nursing staff who found many children hungry by 9 a.m, and eating the food intended for the midday meal at this early hour. The milk ration, combined wtih cocoa and sugar, repre¬ sents 150 calories, which “peps” up the child at a time when such extra energy is most needed. Results have been most encouraging. Since the Chief Medical Officer commenced the organisa¬ tion of the School Health Services eighteen years ago, great changes have taken place in sanitation, building construction, lighting and ventilation, and there is every indication that the tempo of these changes is rapidly increasing. To remodel and improve nearly two thousand schools is a mighty task which can only be accomplished over a number of years. Much has been learnt by experience, and “hastening slowly” has probably been the means of avoiding many mistakes and pitfalls in construction while gathering valuable data. Amazement is not at the little accomplished but at the permanency and excellence of all new construction. The most cordial relationship exists between the School Health Services and the Department of Public Works, whose officials have given most valuable assistance and advice and have ever been ready to co-operate in all matters affecting the health of the school population. To quote one instance: It was suggested by the Chief Medical Officer that a room, solely for the use of the School Health Services staff and the school inspector, should be incorporated in every new school and in all schools undergoing reconstruction. This suggestion was agreed to, and already the principle has been carried out in a number of schools, with the happiest results. Following most cordial co-operation between the city health authorities and the School Health Services, immunisation of school and pre-school children has reached a figure which far surpasses that in any other State of the Commonwealth, a condition to Avhich all officials concerned can turn with pride and thankfulness. In this respect the civic authorities have reason to feel happy that they have unquestionably saved a large number of child lives within the Greater Brisbane area, and the School Health Services officers have contributed their services in assisting the Brisbane City Council in this respect. Rail Dental Clinics Nos. 2 and 3, whose construction the Honourable the Minister for Health and Home Affairs (T. A. Foley, Esq., M.L.A.) recommended and Cabinet approved, will be of inestimable value to the children of rural Queensland. There is no doubt as to their success in this respect. In conclusion, it may be stated that all members of the staff—medical, dental and nursing—have carried out their duties conscientiously and faithfully in the face of many difficulties. School Dental Services. Inspection.—The subjoined table details the total findings revealed at the different inspections of the full staff of School Dental Officers during the year:— Children—Number Examined. Number with Sound Mouths. Condition of Mouth. Use of Tooth Brush. Permanent Teeth. Carious Teeth. Permanent Carious Teeth. Percentage of Children with Dirty Mouths. Total Number of Carious Teeth (Permanent). Average Number of Carious Teeth per Child (Permanent). Clean. Fair. Dirty. A. B. C. Lost or Extracted. 6-year Molars Extracted. Filled. Permanent. Temporary. Saveable. Unsaveable. Per Cent. 30,357 3,875 3,965 21,391 5,001 3,143 20,712 6,502 9,523 8,206 42,106 69,206 48,325 56,892 12,314 16 69,206 2-2