The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) THURSDAY, SEPT, 6th, 1923. MEDICAL INSPECTION OF SCHOOLS.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 September 1923, Page 2

The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) THURSDAY, SEPT, 6th, 1923. MEDICAL INSPECTION OF SCHOOLS.

At Christchurch on Saturday night, Dr. it. B. Phillipps delivered a lecture under the auspices of the w'.K.A., entitled “The Medical Inspection of Schools.” The speaker said, that in Canterbury the medioal inspection of schools was begun in 1914, wlien Dr. Eleanor Baker was appointed school medical officer for this province and part of Westland. Canterbury might well be proud of the work done by its first school medical officer, and the very complete scheme of school medical inspection was in part worked out by her. Th» lecturer then detailed the method of carrying out the medical inspection of schools. 0 He said that with regard to the examination of Standard \ I. children. the importance of this lay in the fact that the medical officers were able sometimes to give advice as to future walks in life. Ho frequently found, for instance, that the narrowchested, short-sighted, "weedy”' girl proposed to be a dressmaker. Tins was quite the worst thing that she could possibly undertake. In such a case a note to the parents pointing ouk the disadvantages of such an occupation, at any rate gave them 3 warning, even though they might not' follow tW advice given. There were four things that they insisted upon m essential to health—plenty of! fresh air, exercise, suitable food, and ‘

plenty of sleep. 1 lie speaker said that before passing to the rather large subject of food, lie would like to say that the slow growth of the Scout movement in Now Zealand was to him very disappointing. The Scout movement developed many eminently useful qualities in both boys and girls—selfreliance. self-help, unselfishness and kindness. It was difficult to quite make out the causes which operated for the relatively small growth of the movement in New Zealand. The lack of suitable Scoutmasters and Scout mistresses was the official explanation. It seemed hard to understand why this should be. Speaking of food Dr Phillipps pointed out to what an extent good, sound teeth depended on a proper diet. He added that it was really distressing to think of the amount of dental caries that was present in the growing generation. He thought that practically nobody but dentists and school doctors and nurses appreciated its extent. He had seen a girl of fourteen years with complete aitiiicial dentures. Of tho entrants to the teaching profession, of an average age of about nineteen, well over onetnird of the second teeth had decayed before adult ago was reached. The articles of diet which he considered t*ev should particularly inveigh were relinod white Hour, manufactured farinaceous foods, cakes, biscuits, too much sugar and jam, and lollies. Tho articles of diet recommended were the simple natural products, wholemeal flour, oatmeal, meat, fish, plenty of green vegetables, fn*i|t, eggs, milk, butter and choose. Tho craving for sweet things was an acquired taste and if children were not brought up to expect those things they would not. want them. In conclusion, Dr. i'hillipps said that from a health point of view, ho had found the teachers only too willing and anxious to help, and lor this ho was exceedingly grateful. Without the help of tlie school teachers, much of their work would be abortive. With their help and wit'll the growing interest that they had in all that pertained to the welfare of the child, tliuy might look hopefully on the future.