THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1913. MEDICAL INSPECTION OF SCHOOLS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 25 February 1913, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1913. MEDICAL INSPECTION OF SCHOOLS.

The Government of New Zealand has decided that, in .the interests of the rising generation, it is desirable that the medical.examination of school children should lie systematically practised. This decision will lie received with universal commendation, provided it results in effective measures being taken to repair the defects, abnormalities and diseases with which so large a percentage of our children are afflicted. We are .still looking for evidence, however, of a genuine desire to achieve these results. The inspection of the children in the larger schools is only touching the fiinge of tho subject. Every child who is undergoing instruction, whether ,in large or small schools, ..should be sub- . jected to a proper examination. And this should he followed up by stops to repair any physical defects that may present themselves. A good deal of useful work will be done by the physical instructors; hut it wiM be many years before the operations of these experts will have a general inlluouo'. 1 throughout the Dominion. In the meantime, it is interesting to note that the medical inspection of school children is being efficiently carried out in many of the Counties of England 111 one county containing 172 elementary schools with over 1500 children on the books the officer reports, first, on the condition o[ ! the buildings and grounds, dealing with such matters as plenty of light, ventilation, heating apparatus, and providing playgrounds with an impervious surface, where mud or dust interfere with cleanliness. Details are given of the procedure and methods adopted in the course of routine medical inspection. The chief attendance offieoi - , whose duties are, similar to those of our truant inspectors, keeps him posted up respecting eases of illness and irregular attendances. Nurses belonging to the District Nursing A "-sedation are engaged, when directed by

tlio medical officer, to visit at their It? nio-i children suffering fiom ;ir»y defects, and to draw tho attention of parents and guardians to tlio nature of .such defects. The nurse lu.s to endeavour to arouse in the parents a sense of responsibility for their children's wolfa.ro, and to do Iter best to pcnsiuido them to obtain medical treatment, or otherwise to remedy the defects referred to. At tlio expiration el' one month fiom the date of tho first visit the nurse has again to visit the homes of tho children, t ) see if tho treatment recommended has been carried out, and report the result to the. school medical officer. It is considered that a scheme such 1 a-; this, of systematically following up children who have been found to lie -udl'cnng from defects, is absolutely essential if a .sufficient degree of (rood to repay tho cost j ;S to result Frun medical inspection. The vi-iiv. o: the 11 nr. So to the children's hornet shortly after tho inspection are of material help; first, in case of serious defects, by urging the parents to got the necessary treatment, and pointing out the evils of neglect or dem ; and then, in the second place, to advise 011 such matters as cleanliness and proper feeding and clothing of children. Statistics aro furnished relative to the height and weight. of the children, and snmo execllcnr, advice is given by tho medical ol'Gcor respecting clothing. Insufficient; clothing is ran?, but overelothing is prevalent. and had in its effects. Tho child insufficiently clad may suffer from tho weather, but the chest has free n!ay and tho lungs hmi room co expand. Tho "wcll-ea red-for child/' clothed in such a wav as to unduly restrict the natural movements of the body, is to he pitied. Stays, or anything approaching them, are unnatural and abhorrent. "The best and only natural mean.s of support are the bines and muscles of the body, and their development should bo encouraged by physical exercises and outdoor games; but this can only be done if the clothes are so fitted that all tho bones and muscles liav© perfectly free [day." With regard to nutrition, one child in fice was below the average of normal robustness. The mist important cause was injudicious diet, parents displaying an extraordinary ignorance as t-o how their children should be fed. In glaring c-nsss the nurses visit and advise the parents. Out of 3000 hoys and girls who were examined 1220 had defective teeth. Dentists attributed th e increasing prevalence of decay in teeth to' the soft nature of tho food usually eaten, especially if it contains starch or sugar, as, for example, in tho sweet biscuit.® riven to children and 'babies. * The -articles lodged in tho crevices of teeth and gums ferment, and produce ">n acid that destroys the enamel. Tho use of a brush a.nd chalk powder ;s recommended, but coarse bread and olenty of crusts and an occasional apde aro preferable. Tho poor and neglected children were found to have the best teeth. Two years ago !2 per cent of the children suffered from enlarged tonsils; last year there -vere 8 per cent, aM this year oiilv 0 per cent. Adenoids have diminished i.n a similar ratio. This satisfactory reduction is attributed to the "'reat care that the teachers are taking •'i making their pupils practise breatli'ii2 exercisers as part of tho daily curriculum.