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of measles. Nothing in the nature of epidemic conditions affected the work as a whole in the Glasgow schools, and no schools were closed on this account. In one of the Lanark schools diphtheria was prevalent. Sporadic cases of this disease have cropped up in the district for a considerable time, and the medical officers are of opinion that certain carrier cases in the town are responsible for its dissemination. In Kirkcudbright

four schools were closed for a week each on account of measles. Compared with the previous year Midlothian had a considerable decrease in cases of measles and whooping-cough, but a large increase in scarlet fever and mumps. It was not found necessary, however, to close any of the schools. Four schools in Morayshire were closed on account of infectious disease, and mumps was prevalent throughout most of the schools. Measles was prevalent to some extent in the county of Nairn, necessitating closure of one school, and mumps has been in evidence to a varying degree during the year. Four schools in Orkney were closed on account of infectious disease, two of them on account of whooping-cough, one of mumps and one of measles. In Perthshire measles was prevalent in the early months of the year, and scarlet fever was epidemic but declined during the summer. One school was closed for three weeks on account of mumps affecting teacher and scholars. Eight schools in Ross-shire were closed for short periods, three being on account of whooping-cough, two for influenza, two for measles and one for septic throats. In Renfrewshire twelve schools were affected by closure on account of measles. In most cases the infant departments only were closed, and the period of closure averaged a week. Measles was also responsible for the closure of eleven schools in Roxburgh for periods from two weeks to a month. In addition, three schools were closed on account of whooping-cough, chickenpox and scarlet fever. In Selkirk three schools were closed on account of mumps, whooping-cough and measles. Mumps has been the most prevalent infectious disease in West Lothian, with 1,061 cases compared with 91 in the previous year. In Wigtown

sixteen schools were closed on account of measles and one on account of chickenpox, the period of closure in most cases being a fortnight. Nine schools in Shetland were closed during the year on account of infectious disease, mainly measles.

8. Minor ailments, which include diseases of the skin, inflammatory and other diseases of the eyes, simple affections of the ear, nose and throat, minor injuries and the like, receive adequate treatment in the larger burghs and in a few county areas.

In Lanarkshire a commencement was made during the session with the establishment of minor ailment clinics in certain of the more densely populated districts of the county, viz. Rutherglen, Cambuslang, Hamilton, Motherwell and Larkhall, and a clinic is to be opened in Airdrie at an early date. At the Lanarkshire minor ailment clinics opened during the year 671 children were treated, making 4,275 attendances.

Midlothian and Peeblesshire Education Authorities opened

clinics at Musselburgh, Dalkeith and Peebles. At the Renfrewshire clinics, of which there are twelve, the total number of children treated was 12,472, and the average number of attendances per child 5.5. A new joint clinic has been opened at Renfrew, combining accommodation for the Authority's General, Dental and Oculist's clinics with rooms for Child Welfare and Tuberculosis work.

In West Lothian two new clinics at Bridgend and Carriden were opened during the year, and those established (14 in number) continued in active operation. The number of cases treated was 5,468, an increase of 1,072 on last year. average number of attendances per child treated was 12.7.

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The county of Fife now has sixteen general clinics providing for the treatment of teeth, eyes, ear, nose, throat and minor ailments, and six smaller clinics for dental and eye cases only.

9. Ringworm and Favus are among the most troublesome conditions that affect school children, and considerable expense is incurred in making special arrangements for the appropriate treatment of affected children. The arrangements, however, have been very successful in keeping these diseases under effective control. In Aberdeen during the year eleven cases of ringworm were admitted to the special school, and for a period of three months there was only one case of ringworm of the scalp among school children. In Dumbartonshire fifteen children were treated by X-rays, and in all cases except one the treatment was successful. In Dundee 77 scholars applied to the X-ray department for advice and treatment for diseases of the skin. Of these 60 were ringworm and three were favus. Most of the cases were treated by X-rays, and the children were able to return to school cured within a month. The X-ray specialist of the Education Authority refers to the reduction in the number of cases requiring treatment in recent years, and the milder nature of the disease.

In Edinburgh 217 pupils attended the special schools in Lauriston Place and Links Place, 135 being sent out as cured. Nearly all the pupils attending the school are patients at the Royal Infirmary, and the treatment recommended there is carried out by the school nurses. Of the 135 cured cases, 123 had X-ray treatment, eleven received drug treatment and one was under observation.

In Glasgow there continues to be a steady decrease in the incidence of ringworm, the number of cases of ringworm of the head under treatment being only 29 per cent. of the figure in 1921. At the special school there were 177 cases of ringworm (including 100 brought forward from previous session); 123 were discharged cured; eight left the district, and 46 remained on the roll at the end of the session.

In Perth burgh the number of cases receiving X-ray treatment has decreased from 131 in 1921 to eight in 1926, and in the county the cases have also decreased to 20 for the year 1926, of which four were uncured.

10. Defective vision was treated in all areas, and in most cases the treatment available was adequate for the needs of all the children. It is satisfactory to note the increasing concern of parents and even of the older children towards the disfiguring defect of squint, and their anxiety to have this rectified. There is also noticeable a greater readiness on the part of parents to allow the optical treatment of squint at an early stage, and a more marked inclination to submit their children to operative procedure, where glasses have, after faithful trial and suitable exercise, demonstrably failed to overcome the defect. The neglect of parents to secure treatment for squint in children has been found in some instances to be due to the belief that the condition will disappear at the age of seven or fourteen, and it is difficult to make them realise that these ages are no more virtuous in causing a spontaneous cure than any other.

In Stirling there is an arrangement with the County Child Welfare Committee whereby children of pre-school age with squint may be brought to the notice of the School Oculist for treatment, and it is to be regretted that advantage of the arrangement has only been taken in a very few cases.

Renfrewshire Education Authority have provided, in a new Special Classes School at Paisley, accommodation for the class known as "school-blind" children. This term is applied to children who are not really blind, but have not enough vision to profit by the education given in ordinary classes. Specially designed class-rooms and special designs of furniture and fitments are provided in order that these children may be educated without the possibility of actual physical deterioration to the eyes. Similar classes have been carried on for some years in some of the principal burghs, and the Edinburgh Authority have recently established a special school with three classes in Lauriston Place, in place of the special class held at Gilmore Place School.

11. Dental Treatment.-Steady though somewhat slow improvement is being made in the provision of dental treatment. The problem is such an extensive one that few authorities have yet provided a sufficient number of dentists to cope with the full requirements of their areas. In some cases the number of emergency cases that come forward for treatment is so great that systematic work among the age-groups is seriously interfered. with. This is unfortunate, as too free treatment of the casual case tells against the more systematic conservative work which is the main aim of the school dental service. When this occurs efforts are made to restrict the number of casual cases, and to encourage parents to avail themselves of treatment before decay has proceeded to the extent that gives rise to toothache and septic inflammation. In spite, however, of the inadequacy of the service there is a distinctly noticeable improvement in the dental condition of the children.

In Perthshire during the past seven years the percentage of children with sound teeth has risen from 20 to 39, and the percentage with five or more decayed teeth has fallen from 27 to 8.

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It is also gratifying to note that of the numbers recommended for treatment the percentage accepting treatment has increased from 43 in 1920 to 66 in 1926.

In Roxburghshire out of 5,321 children inspected 26-93 per cent. had perfect teeth, and 54-23 per cent. had one to four decayed teeth.

In West Lothian 4,239 children were examined and 91.5 per cent. were found to have defective teeth; 76-5 per cent. of these had one to four teeth decayed. The appointment of a wholetime dentist in West Lothian in place of five part-time dentists previously employed has resulted in an increase of the cases treated, viz. 2,314 as compared with 851 in the previous year.

Health talks on the care of the teeth are given regularly in many schools. These talks are much appreciated, and good

results should accrue.

12. Orthopedic Treatment is provided by a few authorities. In Glasgow two medical gymnasts, members of the Physical Training Staff, are employed full-time at this work. The cases treated by them during the year included 37 of spinal curvature, 28 of infantile paralysis, 8 of flat foot and 9 of other ailments. Including 39 cases continued from the previous year, 121 cases in all were treated. Of these 48 were discharged as fit, 5 were referred for hospital treatment, 9 were sent to Biggart Memorial Home, Prestwick, 14 were discharged for other reasons (leaving school, &c.), and the remaining 45 had their treatment continued, Orthopedic appliances were provided for 112 children in Glasgow during the year. A considerable number of school children in Lanarkshire received treatment at one of the institutions in Glasgow, and especially at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children, and orthopedic appliances were provided for 20 children.

The Medical Officer of Argyll states that the excellent results obtained in several cases of severe deformity by operative measures have been a revelation to the parents and friends of the cripples.

13. Sanitation.-While there has been a considerable advance in the sanitation of schools during the past few years, there are a number of areas in which the sanitary conveniences call for much adverse criticism. Even some sanitary offices of recent construction appear to be badly designed, being ill-lighted, inadequately ventilated, and enclosed for reasons of privacy by high walls. The automatic flush type of closet has many objectionable features, and where possible it is being replaced by the single flush type.

In country areas where pail closets are in use and will necessarily have to continue for some time, it is only possible to maintain them in a sanitary condition under the most rigid discipline and supervision, and it is essential that a plentiful supply of dry earth should be available. Where an adequate supply of water is obtainable it is found that Education Authori

ties generally are prepared to provide modern conveniences without delay.

In Inverness-shire the sanitary conveniences in the insular districts are in most cases defective, and considerable difficulty is experienced in obtaining satisfactory cleaners. The outstanding objection to the old system of pail closets is the increasing difficulty of getting the contents removed.

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