H.—3l.

nurse under the Department, acts in the district as a whole-time school nurse. By this arrangement it is hoped to obtain better co-ordination of health activities in the district and closer co-operation with the work of voluntary societies. Figures relating to Work accomplished. The following summary serves to indicate the extent of work accomplished during the year : — Schools inspected— Of roll under 100 . . .. .. . . . 669 Of roll 100 to 500 .. .. .. . .. 316 Of roll over 500 . . .. . . .. . . 152 1,137 Children examined— Complete examinations .. .. .. .. 62,750 Partial examinations .. .. .. .. ..42,114 104,864 Number of notifications sent to parents . . . . . . . . 34,251 Number of addresses to school-children . . . . .. . . 748 Number of parents interviewed .. . . . . . . 11,507 Number of lectures or addresses to parents .. . . . . .. 25 The figures for the work of the school nurses are as follows :—- Number of days assisted Medical Officer in schools .. .. .. 1,496J Number of days engaged wholly in clerical work .. .. .. 1,721| Number of children examined for medical schedule (H. 529) .. .. 88,275 Number of children re-examined after Medical Officer's inspection .. 35,280 Number of visits to homes in— Large towns .. .. .. .. .. .. 7,274 Small country towns .. .. .. .. .. 1,767 Scattered districts .. .. .. .. .. 1,405 — 10,446 Number of children taken personally to hospital .. .. .. 301 Number of children taken personally to dental clinic .. .. 567 Complete Examinations. Total number of children examined .. 60,275 Nose and throat— Percentage found to have defects .. 82-92 Nasal obstruction .. .. 3-54 Percentage with defects other than Enlarged tonsils . . . . 18-53 dental .. . . . . .. 50-89 Enlarged glands .. .. 11-33 Percentage of children showing evidence Goitre— of— All degrees .. .. . . ] 8-57 Subnormal nutrition . . .. 7-14 Incipient .. .. .. 14-66 Pediculosis . . .. .. 1-88 Small . . .. .. 3-32 Uncleanliness . . .. . . 1-68 Medium .. .. .. 0-54 Skin— Large .. .. .. 0-05 Impetigo . . .. . . 1-46 Eye— Scabies .. .. .. 1-26 External eye-disease .. .. 1-65 Ringworm .. .. .. 1-18 Total defective vision .. .. 3-19 Other skin-diseases .. .. 1-00 Corrected .. .. .. 1-51 Non-vaccination .. .. 58-06 Uncorrected.. .. .. 1-68 Heart — Ear— Organic disease .. .. 0-63 Otorrhoea .. .. .. 0-24 Functional disturbance .. 0-44 Defective hearing .. .. 0-43 Respiratory disease .. .. 0-74 Defective speech .. .. 0-64 Total deformities of trunk and chest 17-16 Mental — Mouth — Feeble-mindedness .. .. 0-38 Deformity of jaw or palate, in- Epilepsy .. .. .. 0-03 eluding irregularity .. .. 6-75 Other nervous defects .. .. 0-17 Dental caries .. .. .. 55-12 Tuberculosis— Extractions of permanent teeth.. 7-96 Total .. .. .. 0-10 Fillings .. .. .. 27-19 Pulmonary .. .. .. 0-04 Perfect sets of teeth .. .. 3-72 Other tissues .. .. .. 0-06 Figures giving the result of 2,025 complete examinations and of 850 partial examinations by Dr. Mecredy in Taranaki, and of the result of the examination of 450 pre-school children by Dr. Gunn in Wanganui, came to hand later and are therefore not shown in the above return. The total number of children completely or partially examined last year therefore approximates 108,000. Routine work has proceeded satisfactorily and the figures given serve to show our findings resulting therefrom. Available statistics show that New Zealand children compare favourably with those of other countries with regard to growth and physique, and there is no doubt but that in general health and freedom from defect also they occupy a good position. I propose to use the space at my disposal to comment on one or two special aspects of the work rather than to repeat observations made in previous reports and equally applicable this year.

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