THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 3071, 22 January 1913, Page 5

THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

INSPECTION OF SCHOOL CHILDREN. ROTORUA, January 11. The Hon. R. H. Rhodes to-day formally opened the new Cottage Hospital and Infectious Diseases Hospital. Dr Valintine was present. In the course of his speech the Minister said it had been represented that a Plunket nurse might with advantage combine Plunket work with maternity nursing, and the suggestion met with the sympathy of the department and Dr Truby King. Another important branch of the department’s work was the medical inspection ol school children. He had just received the first reports of the officers appointed, and these showed that a great deal remained to be done to insure the health of children by preventing diseases in their early years. The fourth officer would shortly take up his duties in the Canterbury district. It had come as a shock to learn that of 3343 children examined so large a proportion were in need of some form or other of medical treatment, and he was particularly astonished to find that of the children examined no fewer than 842 suffered from some form of physical deformity, 1321 from obstructed breathing, and no less than 1917 from defective teeth. Though these figures must not be taken as representative of the normal slate of affairs, many of the children having been brought forward on account of suspected defects, the returns showed that the late Government was fully justified in making the appointments. In fact, other appointments would probably have to bo made to cope with the work. As regarded physical deformities, the recent appointment of a director of physical exercises should do a very great deal to rectify them, as many of the defects were preventible and could be rectified by well-directed physical exercises. Mr Rhodes expressed regret at the absence of Dr Wohlmann, who had done such excellent work, gaining a world reputation, and all would agree with him in hoping that Dr Wohlmann would soon return to carry on the scientific work he had inaugurated.