A GREAT WORK.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 October 1922, Page 6

A GREAT WORK.

HEALTH OF SCHOOL CHILDREN. VISIT OF DR. GUNN. That the Department of Health realises the extreme importance of safeguarding the health of the rising generation will become apparent to the most casual observer who takes the trouble to imagine what is being done. Yesterdaj’ a Daily News’ reporter was given the opportunity of studying at first hand a small part of the work at one of the New Plymouth schools, and he came away convinced, not only that there was need of the work, but that great good was being done, which would be further increased if all parents took to heart the suggestions of the doctor. The Department of Health has a number of doctors and nurses engaged in examing school children, and here it may be stated that the Education Act contains authority for the doctors to examine any child at any school and at any time. The schools in Taranaki are under the supervision of Dr. Elizabeth Gunn, and it was through her courtesy that our representative was able to be present during the medical examinations yesterday morning. One outstanding feature was the evident enthusiasm of Dr. Gunn and her assistant. Nurse W. A. Wise, for their work, and the sympathy and understanding with which they dealt with the little tots who came before them. SYSTEM OF EXAMINATION. The system of recording the medical career of each child may be briefly stated by saying that children are examined on commencing their school career, when a chart is prepared, showing in detail the full particulars of their physical development. They are then thoroughly examined again when in Standard 11, and again in Standard VI, and, as the charts are kept for reference, a continuous record is provided, showing the whole of their physical development during the primary school years. While it is-not the universal practice. Dr. Gunn issues a personal invitation to the parents or guardians to be present' while the children are being examined, and a goodly number were at the school yesterday, to receive advice concerning thenchildren. Should the parent not be able to be present and the child need urgent attention, a note is sent asking the father or mother to call on the doctor to discuss the case; and in the rare cases, where no response is made, Nurse Wise makes it her business to call personally on the parent and explain the urgency of something being done. In other cases where there are only minor defects, a note is despatched to the parent on the day the child is examined, stating that medical or dental treatment is required, with an explanation of ’the defects noticed. This notice also draws attention to the fact that treatment can be obtained at the public hospital frae of charge to parents not in a position to pay; and yet there have been and are cases of parents having insufficient interest in ’ their children’s welfare and neglecting to obey the doctor’s warning. All the advice is free, and, in the case of some Standard V! boys, Dr. Gunn drew the reporter’s attention to results which had been achieved through taking heed 1 of earlier warnings. This was particularly noticeable in the case of dental troubles, the earlier records showing particulars of a number of decayed teeth which had since been attended to. TOOTHBRUSH DRILL. Toothbrush drill has a strong advocate in the doctor. “Unfortunately,” she said, •‘there is, in some of the schools, a prejudice against toothbrush drill, some of the parents writing notes that they object to the way the brushes are kept. This is ridiculous. Each child brings its own bag in which to keep its brush, and, as this bag hangs on the child’s own desk, there ; is no chance of any child, getting hold of ! the wrong brush. The brushes do get discolored, due to the fact that they are disinfected every week, but they are certainly kept better than in some homes. Moreover, the drill lasts five minutes every day, and the children brush their teeth well. There are not many mothers who can give this time every day to see that the children clean their teeth properly.” Even to a layman the difference between the teeth of the children carrying out ths drill and those who did not was apparent yesterday, the difference in some cases being most marked. Another point stressed by Dr. Gunn was the fact that some parents do not, apparently, realise that the brushes require renewing at intervals. It is a feather in the cap of Dr. Gunn and of the Wanganui and Taranaki districts that specialists from other districts have been sent to examine the mouths of the children ot these districts, and have reported that their I equal is not to be found elsewhere in the Dominion. . Dr. Gunn is also very keen on health . camps for mal-nutritioned schiHren. Last year, she held one at Turakina, when 8-5 I ro 100 children were kept for a period of ■ five weeks, the results, she said, being more , than satisfactory. The funds to hold the I camp were provided by the people of Wan- ■ ganui, and it is proposed to hold another ’ camp shortly. The children taken are i those about 10 per cent, below normal, 1 and, under the care of the doctor, they soon begin to make rapid strikes towards reaching the level of their playmates.