GOITRE IN SCHOOLS

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 121, 20 February 1928, Page 6

GOITRE IN SCHOOLS

TREATMENT TO BE DISCONTINUED DECISION OF DEPARTMENT Dominion Special Service. Christchurch, February 17. A “retrograde step” was the description applied by a committee of the Canterbury Education Board to the decision of the Health Department to discontinue the treatment for goitre ill schools. The board, at a meeting this morning, adopted the report and added the word “very” before “retrograde.” A letter from the Director of the Schools Health Department read as follows: “A statement will appear in the next issue of tlie ‘Education Gazette’ as follows: ‘lt has been decided to discontinue the preventative and curative treatment for goitre carried out in tlie schools during the last four years. A report upon the result of this treatment, which has been generally beneficial, is being drawn up and will be published shortly. . The public are reminded that iodised salt is now on the market, and its use is recommended in areas where goitre is endemic. Individual sufferers from goitre are advised to seek medical opinion prior to beginning any . form of treatment.’ I send this information as it is probable that various headmasters, school committees, and other authorities may be inquiring why the potassium iodide tablets are not being distributed to schools as in recent years.” The report as amended read: “1 he Director of School Hygiene advised that it has been decided to discontinue the treatment for goitre. It was resolved to express the opinion that the step was regarded, as a very retrograde one.” The report further stated: “The Director of School Hygiene asks that the attention of committees be drawn to tlie injurious practice of distributing sweets, etc., to school children at picnics. It was resolved to send a copy of the circular to each committee.”