11.—31

90

Enlarged Tonsils. —Maori group stow healthier nose and throat conditions. Maori, 172-96 (275-45) ; white, 276-44 (364-55). Enlarged cervical glands.—Maori, 115-55 (309-20) ; white, 230-36 (512-42). Goitre. —Here a less rigid standard lowers the total figures, but leaves undisturbed the Maori comparatively low susceptibility. Maori —Incipient, 24-16 (73-78) ; small, 2-26 (4-21) ; medium, 0-00 (0-70) ; large, 0-00 (0-00) : total, 26-42 (79-39). White —Incipient, 138-62 (314-85) ; small, 9-21 (30-59) ; medium, 2-80 (5-09) ; large, 0-00 (0-63) : total, 150-63 (351-16). Of the goitre found, Maori, 3 per cent., and white, 10 per cent., were already using iodized salt. After inspection and home visitation a further 14 per cent. Maori and 53 per cent, white began to use the preventive salt. Special Senses. —Bars : The amount of deafness was again approximately the same in both groups. Discharging ears were five times more prevalent in the Maori group. Eyes: (a) Conjunctivitis: Maori, 19-60 (18-97), mainly trachoma; white, 5-60 (3-82), no trachoma. (b) Squints : Maori, 5-27 (2-81); white, 8-80 (4-46). (c) Defective vision: Maori, 61-80 (74-22); white, 85-40 (90-94). No corrective glasses are worn in the Maori group, and before inspection 4 per cent, only of the white group possessed the necessary glasses. Hernia. —Maori —Inguinal, 1-50 (2-10) ; umbilical, 18-12 (16-16). White—lnguinal, 4-00 (1-27) ; umbilical, 4-00 (5-73). Phimosis.—Maori, Ml (2-10) ; white, 8-80 (11-47). Flat Foot.—All degrees were slightly more than twice as prevalent in the Maori group —practically the same finding as in 1928. PART IV. —A SURVEY OF THE MENSTRUAL FUNCTION OF TRAINING-COLLEGE STUDENTS AND SENIOR HIGH-SCHOOL GIRLS. By Dr. Grace Stevenson, School Medical Officer. Otaso. The normal girl commences menstruation between the ages of thirteen and fourteen years. Once established menstruation is normally a regular and painless function and continues to the years of forty-four or forty-five. The factors for the establishment of a normal menstrual function are generally assumed to be in order of importance —(1) The maintenance of good health in childhood and through puberty and adolescence ; (2) care of the pre-menstrual stage ; and (3) care of the actual menstrual phase. Ultimately the true test would be the child-bearing capacity. The standards upon which the survey is based are (a) age of onset, the presence or absence of regular pain, the regularity of the period, the quantity and duration of the flow ; (b) the general and specific hygienic measures operating. A. The survey was first carried out by means of a questionnaire drawn up with questions relating to health habits and the menstrual function. This was submitted to the mothers in the case of the school girls, to the girls themselves in the case of the students. The response to the questionnaire was quite good, though some were incomplete and some had to be discarded, making the survey of 103 senior high-school girls and 187 training-college students, in all 290, from a possible 300. The average age of the girls was eighteen, the youngest was fourteen, the eldest twenty-four. The training-college students are a picked body of girls. The points investigated were as follows : (1) The age at which menstruation commenced ; (2) regularity of the period; (3) the duration and quantity of the flow; (4) the frequency of dysmenorrhea. B. To consider the hygienic influences operating generally and specially—(l) Restriction of games, exercises, and bathing during the period ; (2) general hygienic influences. ■ Summary op Findings. (1) In greatest proportion (63 per cent.) menstruation commenced between the ages of 13-14, with a variation from 10-17 years. (2) Regularity of the period occurred in 82 per cent, of the school girls and 91-4 per cent, of the students—older girls greatest regularity. (3) Average duration of the flow was four days, and medium amount in 85 per cent. (4) Occurrence of regular dysmenorrhcea in 8 per cent, of the school girls, and 13 per cent, of the students—greater percentage with the older girls. (5) Menstruation is associated with no regular pain in 89-5 per cent, of the girls.