H—3l

There is a slight improvement in nutrition, the subnormal nutrition for the last three years being 9-53 per cent, in 1944, 9-49 per cent, in 1945, and 8-07 per cent, in 1946. The Maori figures for the same period are : 1944, 6-33 per cent. ; 1945, 7-94 per cent. ; 1946, 7-38 per cent. The posture of our school-children is poor, 36-91 per cent, failing to carry themselves well. The Maori figures are better than the European, but still 23-48 showed poor posture. This amount of postural defect has some relation, undoubtedly, to the insufficient rest and sleep common to a considerable proportion of our children. In some cases unbalanced dietaries will be helping the bodies to droop. It is pleasing so see more perfect sets of teeth being recorded in European children —• 4-12 per cent, this year, against 2-99 per cent, last year. The Maori figure, 6-73 per cent., against 6-43 per cent, in 1945, steadily maintains the racial superiority here. In spite of all the work of District Nurses, there is much educational work yet to do. Goitre in European children is at a very satisfactory level, 7-24 per cent., when one remembers that three or four times this amount was being recorded less than ten years ago. As the use of iodized salt has increased in the same period, it would seem that making good the iodine deficiency has reduced simple goitre incidence in our land. The Medical State of Secondary-school Children Our medical staff do not visit secondary schools as a routine. However, for one reason or another a few schools did have a medical inspection, 902 children being seen. Of these, approximately two out of three had medical or dental defects. Eliminating dental defects, approximately one out of three had some physical defect. The total of children seen was so small that detailed figures and percentages are not being given. The picture in this small group is one of unsatisfactory nutrition, prevalent skin troubles, poor posture, and unhealthy throats. It is planned to do more medical inspection in this adolescent group as staff becomes available, a commencement as a routine next year being a possibility in a limited way. Our medical staff is still at half the necessary strength. The Medical State of the Pre-school Children Number of children seen .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 7,352 Number of defects found— Number. Per Cent. Anaemia .. .. .. .. .. .. 93 1-26 Uncleanliness .. .. .. .. .. 15 0-20 Subnormal nutrition .. .. .. .. .. 647 8• 80 Protuberant abdomen .. .. .. .. .. 264 3-59 Posture defective ... .. .. .. .. 347 4*71 Deformities— Number. Chest .. .. .. .. .. 187 Legs .. .. .. .. .*. 279 Feet .. .. .. .. .. 581 1,047 14-23 Skin-diseases .. .. .. .. .. .. 373 5-07 Heart: Organic defects .. .. .. .. 75 1-02 Lungs .. .. .. .. .. .. 77 1-04 Dental — Gums and soft tissues .. .. .. .. 20 0-27 Dental caries .. .. .. .. .. 503 6• 84 Nose and throat— Adenoids .. .. .. .. .. 229 3-11 Tonsils .. .. .. .. .. .. 722 9-82 Enlarged glands .. .. .. .. .. 282 3-83 Goitre .. .. .. .. .. .. 38 0-51 Eyes— External eye-disease .. .. .. .. 87 1-18 Defective vision .. .. .. .. .. 51 0-69

21