23

H.—3l

Summary or 67,389 Complete Examinations. Number of children examined .. .. 67,389 Percentage of children, &c. —continued. Percentage found to have defects .. 79-51 Nose and throat — Percentage with defects other than dental 54-23 Nasal obstruction .. .. 3-62 Percentage of children showing evidence Enlarged tonsils .. . . .. 18-01 0 f ' Enlarged glands .. .. .. 12-19 Subnormal nutrition .. .. 7-06 -ioa^ All degrees .. .. .. 13-97 Pediculosis .. .. ..1-75 T • • a noo TT , _ Incipient .. . . . . 11-33 Uncleanlmess 1-5 gmall 2 . 38 Skin Medium .. . . . . 0-23 Impetigo .. . . . . 1-93 Large .. . . . . . . 0-03 Scabies .. . . . . 1-6 Eye — Ringworm . . . . . . 0-2 External eye-disease . . . . 1-62 Other skin-diseases . . 0-8 Total defective vision . . . . 3-32 Non-vaccination . . . . .. 66-01 Corrected .. . . . . 1-49 Heart Uncorrected .. . . ' . . 1-83 Organic disease .. . . .. 0-69 ® ar Functional disturbance . . . . 0-96 Otorrhcea . . . . . . 0-33 Respiratory disease .. .. 0-73 " " « Total deformities of trunk and chest . . 15-81 M , , M +1, Mental— . . i Feeble-mindedness . . .. 0-31 Deformity of jaw or palate, including Epilepsv 0-03 irregularity . . . . . . 5-04 Other nervous defects .. . . 0-26 Dental caries .. .. .. 51-73 Tuberculosis — Extractions of permanent teeth . . 6-81 Total . . .. .. . . 0-05 Fillings .. .. 31-46 Pulmonary . . . . . 0-03 Perfect sets of teeth .. .. 4-11 Other tissues .. .. .. 0-02 It is satisfactory to note an increase in the amount of work actually accomplished. Not only have more children been examined and a greater number of parents interviewed than in previous years, but the scope of the work has been widened, attention having been given to special aspects concerning which more information is given below. The percentage of defects noted differs very little from that in previous years, the general tendency, however, being to show a slight decrease. Further evidence with reference to the improved physical condition of New Zealand pre-school and school children is to be found in the last issue of the Official Year-book as follows :— " The pronounced fall in New Zealand's infant-mortality rate during the last two decades has not been accompanied by an increase in the death-rate of children between the ages of one and ten years. There has, on the contrary, been a substantial fall, as is shown by the following figures covering the last thirty-five years, the numbers and rates given refer to annual averages for the quinquennia mentioned : —

School Nurses. The returns indicate also a. definite increase in the amount and scope of the work accomplished by the school nurses. The work of the school nurses is of vital importance to the success of the School Medical Service. The number of home visits paid by them during the last year equals 15,529, a slight increase on the year previously. This ensures greater parental co-operation, better treatment returns, and wider health education.

1 and under 5. 5 and under 10. Quinquennium. —j— Number of Deaths. , Rate.* Number of Deaths. Kate.* 1894-1898 .. .. 440 68 185 22 1899-1903 .... 504 76 194 23 1904-1908 .. .. 444 37 172 19 1909-1913 .. .. 447 49 193 18 1914-1918 .. .. 547 53 266 22 1919-1923 .. .. 465 44 245 19 1924-1928 .. .. 403 38 • 203 15 * Per 10,000 children at ages shown.