H.—3l.

Tuberculosis Contacts, Wellington District: Summary from 21st February, 1933, to 20th February, 1934. Number of schools visited — Three monthly .. .. .. .. • • • • .. 72 Six monthly .. .. . • • ■ • • ■ • • ■ 5 Once during the year .. .. ' .. • • • • • • 9 Approximate number of families on list . . . . . . . . • • 318 Approximate number of children on list . . .. . . ■ • • • 620 Number of homes visited (home visits) . . . . . . ■ • .. 700 Number of children —- Examined by Dr. Short .. .. ■ ■ • • • ■ • • 355 X-rayed .. .. .. • • • • • • • • .. 23 Showing evidence of T.B. . . . . . . . . ■ • .. 12 To Dr. Russell (Psychological Clinic) . . . . . . • • 1 To Dr. Gillies (Orthopaedic cases) .. . . ■ • ■ ■ • • 8 To eye, ear, nose, and throat specialist (approximately fifty-one visits) .. 33 Treated at out-patients, in hospital, or by private practitioner (for some general disability) .. .. ■ • • ■ • • 21 To office for weight or examination by School Medical Officer .. .. 61 To Otaki Health Camp .. .. • ■ ■ • • • .. 13 To Otaki Rest-home .. • • • • • • • • .. 4 Who received dental treatment at hospital or dental clinic .. .. 190 Open-air Schools fob Delicate Children. The Sunshine School, Auckland (conducted by the Community Sunshine Association) and the Kew School, Dunedin, continue to do good work. Miss Wright, school nurse, in her report on the Sunshine School, states that thirty-nine children were admitted during the year, the reasons for admission being : Rheumatism and heart abnormalities, T.B. contacts, asthma, spinal, malnutrition and nervous, muscular infirmities, sinus infection, anaemia, bad posture, osteomyelitis. A considerable amount of specialist treatment for certain defects was carried out.' Sunbathing was utilized on all suitable days. A generous midday dinner was supplied in addition to a daily milk ration. The response to this regime was easily seen in the improved condition of the children. Kew School, Dunedin : Twenty-seven children have attended the school this year. During the year 6 children left the school, 5 being well enough to go back to the ordinary school routine and 1 child moving to live in the country ; 18 of the children were under weight, irrespective of other physical ailments, Bof them being 10 lb. or more under-weight. Attending the school were children suffering from cardiac lesions, chest conditions, general debility, chronic deformities, tuberculosis contacts, children from poor environment, and so on. During the year an Open-air School Committee was formed in connection with the school, the main object being to provide a hot midday meal for the children, thus making possible a satisfactory health regime. Creditable progress has been made in response to these efforts, and the voluntary workers responsible for improving the amenities at the school have reason for congratulation. Kindergartens. In most centres throughout the Dominion School Medical Officers conduct regular medical examinations of kindergartens. .... During the year 608 kindergarten children were examined ; the result of the examination is shown as follows : Number of children examined, 608. Percentage found to have defects, 67-60. Percentage with defects other than dental, 54-11. Percentage of children showing evidence of—Subnormal nutrition, 3-45 ; pediculosis, 0-33 ; uncleanliness, 0-99. Skin—lmpetigo, 1 -64 ; scabies, 0-33 ; ringworm, 0-16; other skin-diseases, 1-97. Non-vaccination, 93-4-2. Heart—Organic disease, 0-16; respiratory disease, 1-81. Total deformities of trunk and chest, 15-96. Mouth Defoimity of jaw or palate, including irregularity, 0-33 ; dental caries, 38-49 ; fillings, 10-03 ; perfect sets of teeth, 26-97. Nasal obstruction, 4-44. Enlarged tonsils, 12-66. Enlarged glands, 17-43. Goitre—All degrees, 4-60. Eye—Total defective vision, 1-32 ; corrected, 0-66 ; uncorrected, 0-66. Ear—Otorrhoea, 0-49 ; defective hearing, 0-16. Defective speech, 1-48. Notifications to parents, 27-80. Little difference in the incidence of defect found in kindergarten and entrant children m the primary school is to be noted, except that the incidence of malnutrition is greater among children attending the primary school. Kindergarten children show much greater percentage with perfect teeth, 26-97 as against 4-43. ' , , All reports make favourable reference to the keen interest evidenced by the teachers and parents in the welfare of the children and the wholesome atmosphere of the kindergarten centres. A satisfactory feature is the large percentage of parents who show interest in the welfaie of their children by attending the medical examination. Closer co-operation and better understanding are by these means obtained between the child, parent, teacher, School Medical Officer, and nurse. Native Schools. Since the establishment of the East Cape and North Auckland districts, the examination of Native schools has been greatly extended, and each year an increasing amount of knowledge is available regarding the physical condition of the Maori. The arrangement by which the district nurse acts as school nurse in these areas is excellent and has resulted in more intensive attack on the many minor school health problems.

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