HEALTH IN THE SCHOOL

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2292, 28 October 1914, Page 3

HEALTH IN THE SCHOOL

« MEDICAL INSPECTOR'S REPORT CITY AND SUBURBS 'A report by the District Medical Inspector (Dr. Elizabeth Gunn) on tho children in the Wellington schools was laid on the table at tho Education Board's monthly meeting yesterday afternoon. Seven schools in the city and suburbs were visited for the purposes of the report, and the following defects were found: — Number.of children examined ■„. 600 Evidence of eub-normal nutrition 160 Malnutrition ..... 23 Skin diseases < 64 Defective teeth o: 304 Obstructed breathing 145 Enlarged glands „• 184 External eye disease , 12 Defective hearing ..., 64 Defective speech ~ 11 Mental defect .• 10 Non-vaccination 312 Circulatory disease t 3 Respiratory disease , 8 Nervous disease , 2 Tuberculosis t 8 Stoopod shoulders „„....,,$■ 120 Curvature ......■.,«■.«,..»} 11 Flatrchest ,' t 79 Pigeon-breast ~.. , 13 Other diseases ....-, 33 The report went into detail concern- ] ing the condition of the buildings. Concerning one school the medical inspector said: —"The inside of this school is dieappointing after the elaborate appearance of the .exterior. The noise,' although the children wear special slippers, is deafening. The floor acts as an excellent sounding board. , ■~ . f One_ is able to appreciate the severe strain under which the teachers must work." In the case of another school, the doctor said: —"To report upon the build- ■ ing is waste of time." In one school visited at snort notice several cases of ringworm and impetigo (a skin affection) were found. There was also a- prevalence of pediculus capitis (head lice), and instructions were given for its eradication. One satisfactory feature of the inspection was the discovery that many of the pupils who had been examined last year had had their defects attended to. In the case of one school 71 per cent, of cases had received attention. In concluding lier report Dr. Giuin said :— "It is very gratifying to hear from the' teachers of the town schools that the results of medical inspection are very far reaching. Tho children are interested and anxious to have their defects attended to, and take a much greater interest than formerly in their medical condition. Many more requests are received from parents to have their children reported upon, and the number attended to is a striking proof that the benefits- of medical inspection are being realised,"