Manawatu Evening Standard. Circulation, 3,500 Copies Daily. WEDNESDAY, MAY 25, 1910. MEDICAL INSPECTION.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9221, 25 May 1910, Page 4

Manawatu Evening Standard. Circulation, 3,500 Copies Daily. WEDNESDAY, MAY 25, 1910. MEDICAL INSPECTION.

In his report to the Wanganui Education Board the Chief Inspector comments upon the movement in the direction of having all school children medically examined and' incipient ailments treated. , He remarks, however, that before the effects of bodily disorder are dealt with, the causes, so far as they are attributable to school conditions should be grappled with. He then makes several rather disconcerting references to the surroundings of some schools. Neglected ventilation, dirty lavatories, wrongly placed windows, wet playgrounds, inadequate drainage and uncomfortable seats are mentioned as some of the sourccs of infantile indisposition. Parents will not be re-assured by ''he thought that there are schools where the scholars have to work in such uncongenial surroundings. So far as the construction of the buildings goes, little improvement can be expected in view of the difficulty in obtaining funds. In regard to the other matters, however, much can be done by school committees and education boards. If the Chief Inspector's remarks apply to the Wanganui district, he should in justice to parents and the controlling authorities indicate where the environments are so unsuitable for the purposes of education. Mere general- references are of little value in matters of the kind.

It may be mentioned that quite recently" the Canterbury Education Board had the scholars in one of the Cbrietchurch schools carefully examined by a medical man, and his re?K>rt is now available. The doctor says that of 322 children, he had passed 184 as being, in absolute good health. Of the 138 children left, he had passed 71 as being in good health, but having some defect, and 67 as being in fair general health, whether or not they had some other defect. Of the 138 children thus selected he :iad found twelve to have defective hearing, and eight to be suffering from adenoids. Thirty-five were' found to have such a defect in eyesight as to render further examination distinctly advisable. Whereas thirteen children had been under medical treatment for disease of the ear, nose or throat, only three had had their eyesight examined by a mecjical man. ' Generally speaking, it would appear that, although th(? standard of health was found to

be good, there were a small number 1 of cases of disease of the ear, nose and I throat, which required medical attention, but relatively a large number of cases of defective eyesight were revealed. In all these instances muck subsequent suffering would be prevented by timely treatment, and it is by enabling disease to be promptly dealt with that medical inspection can do much good. It is to be hoped the practice will be extended to other parts of the Dominion, either by the Boards or State.