MEDICAL INSPECTION OF SCHOLARS.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 December 1917, Page 8

MEDICAL INSPECTION OF SCHOLARS.

ADDRESS BY DR. PATTERSON. On Saturday morning a large number of teachers of the schools of the northern part of the Taranaki district, met the medical inspectors, Drs. Patterson and Irwin, at the Technical School. There were also present Inspectors Morton and Ballantyne, and Mr. Roydliouse, inspector of physical education. In introducing the medical inspectors to the meeting, Mr. Morton stated that the present was the first visit since the ncvr Taranaki district was formed. On behalf of the teachers he desired to welcome the presence of the doctors, and to express appreciation of the value of their work. Regarding both medical and physical inspection, the teachers had only one fault to find, and that was that its scope was too narrow; that especially the smaller colmtry schools were omitted from the benefit of inspection that had for its object the physical welfare of the children of the schools. They hoped that later there would be an extension of the scheme. Dr. Patterson, after acknowledging the welcome extended, delivered an interesting address. She referred to various conditions that led to poor physical development. In the slums of the large towns, and in some homes in the backblocks, the housing conditions were not, such as to provide ventilation and cleanliness, and the food lacked variety and a proper degree of nutriment. In New Zealand this applied to a smaller extent than in some other countries, and in height and weight the children of corresponding ages have a distinct advantage over those of Great Britain. Still, in the Dominion there was room for fuller attention to the environment and habits of the children. Suitable clothing, the avoidance of sitting in school with wet feet, and suitable meals, especially with reference to the "lunches" brought to schools in the country, were referred to as important points. While tho cleaning of teeth was essentia], the general defect was ascribed largely to the character of tho food and the need of greater exercise and mastication. Juvenile crime was due to misdirected energy, and partly to the lack of suitable playing areas in' the largo towns. Picture shows, in Dr. Patterson's opinion, may, in the case of occasional -items, have a bad moral effect, lint the chief evil was over-stimulation, and the resulting insufficiency of sloop, Eyesight suffered seriously in the casV of young children, from tqa much sowing and music praotice, The loeturer stated that during tho iiy<i years she had been engaged ak inspector she had noticed a marked decrease in the number of children sull'ering from adenoid*. Tills waa attributed to the regulav physical training, including cleep breathing, that had been given ij>. the schools, ft. Patterson illustrated her address by tho relation of ft number of appropriate, and often humorous, incidents &nd thoroughly maintained t,h(> interest

of her audience. A hearty vote of appreciation terminated the proceedings. A similar address will bo given on the 15th instant at Stratford.