CHILDREN'S HEALTH.

Otaki Mail, Volume 26, 25 July 1919, Page 4

CHILDREN'S HEALTH.

* ' .SCHOOL MEDICAL INSPECTION. ; At the request of the Wanganui EduI mill Hoard, the medical officer for th.-f ! education district (as well as Taranaki i ■-. I Ilawke's Hay). Dr. Klizabetli , mi. attended Wednesday 's meeting i the Hoard and gave pnrtii nlars of ,:■;■ work and her ideas as to improve- ■ -nt:. Slu ,■•. plained that in the perioil 1 ::.iler review she had confined her c> I a iirat'a.ns in nearly all the seliools to ' ihe infant classes, so as to ascertain j whether the condition ol any of the children was duo to their home environment or neglect. In the period under review she had examined I'lfij infants. U:', of whom had natural defects which should lie attended to; S7II required immediate treatment. 370 sulVi red from dental troubles; o'-'l from adenoids and swollen tonsils; 3S(j suffered from enlarged glands and deformities; 5o from goitre; -l:: suffered from malnutrition, lii many-.ea.;cs some of these defects were attributed to the condition of the sehool buildings, awkward desks, etc.. but as the children referred to were all infants who had only recently-been ail- | mined to the schools, such could not be the case. The establishment by the I Government of dental clinics would do ia great d-al of good, and if arrange i incuts could be made for the free medi- ! eal treatment of pupils whose parents eould rot atrord to pay tor it. a very gjeat improvement could be effected. Children should not be admitted to the schools suffering from the defects referred to unless their complaints wore being attended to, and no pupi] should be admitted to the higher educational healthy condition. In leolyiug to the chairman. Dr Guun explained the system of curative school ramp, she would like to see adopted. Her idea was that certain pupils who required curative treatment should 1)0 I taken, to a camp in the country or at I lie seaside for four week- during the summer holidays, where they would get ( physical instruction and organised ' games under Hie direction of a compe- t lei t iustrtictoj, and the rest of the day could be occupied under the care of j ladies who would see in every way to their welfare. She was willing to spend j her holidays in supervising such a j camp, and a number of competent j ladies had offered their services as as- . sistauts. The expense would be very j small, and'she felt suit the benefits , to the children would be very great A: , J iisl a selection should be "made from j children who required curative treat-