H.—3l.

Analysis of 62,222 Complete Examinations,

Total number of children examined .. 62,222 Percentage found to have defects .. 74-29 Percentage with defects other than dental .. .. .. .. 53-69 Percentage of children showing evidence o f ° Subnormal nutrition .. 5-81 Pediculosis .. 1-00 Uncleanliness .. . " 1-43 fekm— Impetigo .. .. .. 1-20 Scabies .. .. -.. i-67 Ringworm .. .. .. o-18 Other skin diseases .. .. 1-27 Non-vaccination .. .. .. 93-60 Heart— Organic disease .. .. o-71 Functional disturbance .. .. 1-47 Respiratory disease 1-24 Total deformities of trunk and chest 19-21 Mouth t-> i • r ■ Deformity ofjaw or palate, including irregularity 4 . M Dental canes 41.43 Extractions of permanent teeth .. 7-13 ™?Z? .;■ ■■ ■■ 43-36 Perfect sets of teeth .. .. 3-30

Percentage of children, &c—continued. Nose and throat— Nasal obstruction .. .. 3-22 Enlarged tonsils .. .. 15-61 Enlarged glands .. .. 10-85 Goitre— All degrees 15-24 Incipient 11-41 Jnall 3-26 Medium .. .. .. 0-49 Large .. .. .. 0-08 EyeExternal eye-disease .. .. 1-37 Defective vision (total) .. 3-57 Corrected .. .. 1-92 Uncorrected .. .. .. 1-65 EarOtorrhcea .. .. .. 0-26 Defective hearing .. .. 0-33 Defective speech .. .. 0-68 Mental— Feeblemindedness .. .. 0-31 Epilepsy .. 0-04 Other nervous defects . " 0-25 TuberculosisTotal Pulmonary 0-10 Other tissues " " 0 -05 Notifications to parents .. . 36-63

It is thus evident that in sp lt e of the diminution of staff the amount of routine work done has been r™ H red «ct.on and reorganization of staff has resulted in lessened expenditure but has necessitated the concentration of our efforts on routine work and has made impossible the carrying-out of any special investigations as in previous years. School Nursing Staff. In pursuance of the system of reorganization mentioned in the report last year, district nurses in outlying areas are now acting as school nurses in increasing number. This arrangement holds throughout the Auckland and East Cape districts, the work of the school nurses proper being there fore restricted to Auckland City and a small part of the country beyond. It is anticipated that h 8 ..wmgement will not only make for economy, but will ensure better understanding and closer Ml 1 ' o ', nffi n bet , wee Y h , e ,. office f of the Department and the local residents. Hitherto Schoo Medical Officers have had limited opportunity for getting into touch with parents in country districts Visits to remote schools have perforce to be infrequent. For reasons of economy and because of our reduced numbers, it is necessary to concentrate our efforts where the school population is greatest for the same reasons the follow-up visits of the school nurses have had to be curtailed The district fn S'loTnTitf .7 aVa t ble >; She \ S the fFlend ° f ° ne ' and is aPPealed to forts!st™ vlil M J f n P ffi ; She haS T ple °PP° rtunit y. therefore, of following up the advice of the visitng Medical Officer and ensuring that treatment recommended is obtained. Moreover though cMdren in remote areas as elsewhere suffer from defects requiring medical or surgical attention there wittn uTIU Whlch ** Carried ° Ut a ™ living There has been a reduction (to 12,377 from 14,885) in the number of visits to homes paid by school nurses. This while a matter for regret, is an inevitable result of staff reduction. There is an annually increasing demand from health camp organizations for the services of school nurses During Ls e ta y nc a es) S Tong e e n r S nUrBeS ° D ** heaM CampS f ° r a peri ° d ° f tw ° Weeks or < in a fe^ In Taranaki the arrangement with the Red Cross Society still holds, by which Misses Corkill and doTe b C v7h y ° Ut °° mblned t : dut^ as , Red Cross and school nurses. The quality and amount o work done by these officers in their dual capacity is excellent, but, in view of the increasing demand for !s"i''sentiaT eS, eSpeClally m the f ° rm ° f evenin g classes > some modification of the present programme In Marlborough the arrangement by which Miss Atkinson acts as school nurse and local Child Welfare Officer is working satisfactorily. The work of the school nurses cannot be assessed in figures. It is pleasing to record that thev have not a iteral interpretation as to the scope of their duties, but give advice and assistance in manj ami themseh^s 3 succeeding m establishing a friendly relationship between the parents

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