The Press. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1912. SCHOOLS AND DISEASE.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14524, 28 November 1912, Page 6

The Press. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1912. SCHOOLS AND DISEASE.

Although the plan of medical inspection of echo-Is has been in operation for about a couple of months only, and at present merely a commencement - has been made with the work, the valuo of tho system is already apparent. It appears from a statement made by the Hon. Jamos Allen that not only ia thero ft great deal of dentol trouble, a fact of which most people wero already aware, hut. that many children are found to he sufferfc ing from malnutrition. This is & 9 very __,_p_.sing fact, bearing in mind I the prosperity of tho country, and tho f general cheapness of food, but no doubt tho explanation suggested by UffcAllen is correct, namely, that it. isf largely duo to tho ignoranc© of parents in regard to the subject of dietetics. If so, it is a strong argument in favour of more attention being given to the teaching of the principles and practice

of cookery in our schools. Cases of spinal curvature and want of breathing capacity are found here,, as well as at Home, and tho new system of physical training to be introduced in the schools should do much to correct these defects. Wo shall be disappointed, howevei, if, as the result of the Medical Inspectors' labours, attention is not given, not only to the condition of tho scholars, but also to that of tho schools. Under any circumstances, thero is no doubt that the herding together of children during their most tender years, is responsible for a great deal of ill-health. The author of a very interesting book just published, entitled, "Tho Doctor and the People," (H. de Carle Woodcock), points out that in England some schools are scandals as far as hygiene is concerned. Ventilation may not be entirely neglected, but it is ridiculously inefficient. Wo fear that the samo thing may he said of schools in New Zealand. Mr Woodcock points out that there arc "congregation" diseases spread by volatile infection, agents which will givo a death-rate even if the children are taught in the open, and in some schools tho conditions are such that this volatilo infection is intensified to an extremely dangerous degree. In the schools of the present day, theso "congregation" diseases have a curious habit of arriving, increasing in virulence, then lessening in virulence, then finally departing. Children, he considers, ''toddle off" to school too early. Most of them, at least, have one attack of measles, and many have scarlet foyer, and theso diseases are most dangerous to tho younger children. Tho death-rate amongst children, ho considers, is higher than it ought to be, partly duo to the early ago at which they aro sent to school, partly also to the great size of tho schools, and the absence of open-air teaching. Tho system of medical inspection now inaugurated, and the physical training to be introduced into tho schools, should have a very material effect in lessening the death-rate, and improving tho physique, of tho rising generation in Now Zealand. Wo believe that if ft system of open-air teaching is added, wherever possible, to the beneficent agencies referred to, tho result will bo a still further improvement of vast importance to the country. Mr James Allen will have his hands very full during his approaching visit to tho Mother Country, but we hopo ho will be able to make some personal investigations into the system of open-air teaching. In this way a means may be found not only of improving the health of tho children, but of providing the increased accommodation which is necessary, without adding unduly to the building expenditure.