H.—3l.

Kindergartens. During the year 739 kindergarten children were examined ; the result of the examination is shown as follows : Number of children examined, 739. Percentage found to have defects, 81-87. Percentage with defects other than dental, 63-33. Percentage of children showing evidence of —Subnormal nutrition, 3-65 ; pediculosis, 0-95 ; uncleanliness, 1-35. Skin—lmpetigo, 0-81 ; scabies, 0-81 ; ringworm, 0-00; other skin diseases, 2-44. Non-vaccination, 99-59. Heart—Organic disease, 0-41. Respiratory disease, 4-60. Total deformities of trunk and chest, 15-42. Mouth—Deformity of jaw or palate, including irregularity, 1-22 ; dental caries, 45-06 ; fillings, 13-80 ; perfect sets of teeth, 22-60. Nasal obstruction, 5-68. Enlarged tonsils, 23-27. Enlarged glands, 14-75. Goitre—All degrees, 3-39. Eye—Total defective vision, 1-09 ; corrected, 0-95; unconnected, 0-14. Ear—Otorrhoea, 0-54 ; defective hearing, 0-41. Defective speech, 1-22. Notifications to parents, 35-05 per cent. School Medical Officers noted with appreciation, first, the great interest displayed by parents as evidenced by the number who attend the medical examination, and, secondly, the devotion shown by the teachers to the welfare of their pupils. These factors have been responsible for the maintenance of a much higher level of well-being of kindergarten children than might have been anticipated. Dr. Wilson reports as follows : — " Practically every mother attends when the kindergarten children are being medically examined. I think this may be due in part to the interest shown by the teachers in the work. Dr. Irwin makes similar comment:— " The kindergarten teachers show a keen interest in the health and welfare of the children. Each year in many cases with their co-operation we are enabled to ward off more serious illness by obtaining early treatment of remediable defects." A kindergarten school forms a social centre for the district, and its educational merit is by no means confined to its pupils. Parents, teachers, and children cheerfully co-operate for the common good. Native Schools. Returns showing the result of examination of 2,724 Maori children are as follows : Number of children examined, 2,724. Percentage found to have defects, 87-22. Percentage with defects other than dental, 64-65. Percentage of children showing evidence of—Subnormal nutrition, 4-11 ; pediculosis, 4-81 ; uncleanliness, 2-39. Skin—lmpetigo, 3-52 ; scabies, 17-44 ; ringworm, 0-07 ; other skin diseases, 3-38. Non-vaccination, 99-96. Heart—Organic disease, 0-77. Respiratory disease, 3-08. Total deformities of trunk and chest, 19-69. Mouth—Deformity of jaw or palate, including irregularity, 9-80 ; dental caries, 74-19 ; extractions of permanent teeth, 1-40 ; fillings, 7-71 ; perfect sets of 12-67. Nasal obstruction, 3-38. Enlarged tonsils, 9-88. Enlarged glands, 5-32. Goitre—All degrees, 11-53. Eye—Total defective vision, 1-32; corrected, 0-07; uncorrected, 1-25. Ear—Otorrhoea, 0-70; defective hearing, 0-22. Defective speech, 0-29. Tuberculosis—Total, 6-06. Dr. Turbott continues his comparative survey of the health of 1,485 Maori and 2,487 pakeha children :— Heart— Maori Pakeha. Organic disease .. .. .. .. .. 0-67 0-82 Functional disease .. .. .. .. .. 0• 33 0-54 Respiratory disease—Unhealthy chests .. .. .. 1-41 0-77 Physique — First-class nutrition .. .. .. ..38-31 27-94 Subnormal nutrition .. .. .. ..0-62 1-67 Total deformities, trunk and chest .. .. .. 2-26 4-54 Clubfeet .. .. .. .. .. .. 0-13 0-00 Cleanliness— Uncleanliness .. .. .. .. .. 0 • 20 0-27 Pediculosis .. .. .. .. ..4-37 0-18 Skin conditions — Scabies .. .. .. .. .. .. 16-96 0-36 Impetigo—septic sores .. .. .. .. 4-64 1-64 Other skin diseases .. .. .. .. .. 0-53 1-60 Vaccination performed .. .. .. .. .. 0• 07 5-98 Dental hygiene — Defects in jaw and palate .. .. .. ..0-14 0-36 Perfect sets of teeth .. .. .. ..17-04 2-34 Dental caries— Primary .. .. .. .. .. 32-21 28-48 Secondary .. .. .. .. ..15-71 21-21 Pyorrhoea .. .. .. .. .. .. 2-18 0-62 Defects, nose and throat— Nasal obstruction .. .. .. .. ..5-94 8-68 Enlarged tonsils .. .. .. .. ..14-22 21-94 Enlarged cervical glands .. .. .. ..3-83 9-37

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