HEALTH OF THE YOUNG

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 35, 11 February 1914, Page 3

HEALTH OF THE YOUNG

INSPECTION OF SCHOOLS SUNLIGHT AND FRESH AIR. (BY TELEGRAPn.— SPECIAL TO THE POST.) AUCKLAND, This Day. The health of school children, with special reference to inspection and hygiene, was dealt with by the Public Health Section of the Medical Congress, which was presided over by Dr. C Savill Willis, principal medical officer to the Department of Public Instruction of New South Wales. He drew attention to the progress that had been made in the direction of using the schools as an aid in checking the spread of disease, and declared that the schools afforded an excellent opportunity for doctors to make investigation. Various sources of direct and indirect infection had been eliminated, and he contended that the closure of schools was now recognised in the majority of cases as a most crude and unscientific way of dealing with outbreaks of disease. Sunlight and fresh air were the most reliable means of removing possible infection, but should be aided by soap and wa'fit. The common belief amongst parents that children must at some time have an a.ttack of certain infectious diseases and that the sooner the infection comes along the better was referred to by Dr. Willis. As a consequence of this belief, he said, mothers were accustomed to purposely expose the-ir children to infections. In these days, he added, this is not done, as mothers know that it is not necessary for a child to have measles, scarlet fever, etc. Consequently more children now reach the school age who are still susceptible to the various infectious diseases. | HANDKERCHIEF AND TEETH DRILL. Dr. Jane S. Greig, of Victoria, contributed a paper on " The Hygiene of the Children of the School." She dealt with the practical and personal aspect, and pointed out that the teachers could assist materially in improving the conditions by holding "handkerchief and teeth drill," And insisting on cleanliness of clothing A conference of the representatives from Victoria, Queensland, West Australia, and New Zealand with Dr. Willis, president, was held to consider matters affecting uniformity in the inspection of schools.