HEALTH OF SCHOOL CHILDREN.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1646, 13 January 1913, Page 6

HEALTH OF SCHOOL CHILDREN.

« SOME STRIKING FIGURES. STATEMENT BY THE HON. R. H. RHODES. I (By Telegraph-Press Association*) Rotorua, January 11. The Hon. R. H. Hhodes to-day formally opened tho new cottage hospital and infectious diseases hospital, Dr. valintine being present. • In tho courso of his speech tho Minister said it had been represented that a Plunlcet nurse might with advantage combino Plunkct work with maternity nursing, and the suggestion met with tho sympathy .of the Department and. Dr Truby King. Another important branch of the Department's work-was the medical inspection of school children. He had just received the first reports of the officers appointed which showed that a great deal remained to bo dono to insnro the health of the children by preventing diseases in early years. Further, oflicers would shoftly take up these duties. In the Canterbury district it came as a shock to learn that of 33-13 children examined so large a proportion need some form or other, of medical treatment, and he was particularly astonished to find that of the children examined no fewer than 842 suffered from some form of physical deformity,-1321 from obstructed breathing, and no fewer than 1917 from defective teeth. Though these figures musl not be taken as representative of tho normal state of affairs, many children having been brought forward on account of suspected defects, the returns showed thai the late Government was fully justified in making the appointments. In fact otlioi appointments would probably havo to b< made to cope with the work. As regard* physical deformities the recent appointment of a director of physical exercises should do a very great deal to rectifj them, as many of the defects are preventable, and can be rectified by well-directed physical exercises. Mr. Ehodes expressed regret at the absenoe of Dr. Wohlmann who had done such excellent work, gain ing a world reputation, and all woulc agree -with him in hoping that Dr. Wohl mann would soon return to carry' on th< scientific work he had inaugurated.