H.—3l.

Summary of Complete Examinations. European. Maori. Number of children examined . . . . . . 58,279 4,396 Percentage found to have defects .. . . 75-38 70-00 Percentage with defects other than dental . . 55-76 52-57 Percentage of children showing evidence of— Subnormal nutrition . . . . . . 6-65 4-19 Pediculosis .. . . . . . . 0-61 4-64 Uncleanliness . . . . . . . . 1-33 1-64 Skin— Impetigo .. . . . . . . 0-97 3-09 Scabies . . . . . . . . 0-78 18-84 Ringworm . . . . . . . . 0-13 0-39 Other skin-diseases . . . . . . 1-70 1-98 Heart— Organic disease . . .. . . 0-69 0-68 Functional disturbance .. . . 1-06 3 66 Respiratory disease . . . . . . 1-10 1-09 Total physical deformities . . . . . . 12-17 8-00 Mouth— Deformities of jaw or palate, including irregularity .. . . . . 4-25 7-78 Dental caries . . . . . . . . 36-17 38-65 Extractions of permanent teeth.. . . 7-00 4-39 Fillings .. .. .. .. 52-21 11-58 Perfect sets of teeth . . . . . . 2-60 15-76 Nose and throat— Nasal obstruction .. . . . . 3-51 2-39 Enlarged tonsils . . . . . . 16-00 12-22 Enlarged glands . . . . . . . . 9-02 7-05 Goitre — All degrees .. . . . . . . 19-86 12-13 Incipient . . . . . . . . 16-34 10-90 Small . . . . . . . . 3-13 114 Medium . . .. . . . . 0-35 0-09 Large . . . . . . .. 0-04 EyeExternal eye-disease . . . . . . 1-68 2-05 Total defective vision . . . . . . 4-23 2-57 Corrected . . .. . . . . 2-23 0-14 Uncorrected .. . . . . . . 2-00 2-43 Ear — Otorrhoea . . . . . . . . 0-21 1-25 Defective hearing .. . . . . 0-65 0-43 Defective speech . . . . . . . . 0-73 009 Mental— Feeble-mindedness . . . . . . 0-33 0-21 Epilepsy .. . . . . . . 0-05 0 02 Other nervous defects . . . . . . 0-29 Tuberculosis— Total . . . . . . . . 0-06 0-46 Pulmonary .. . . . . . . 001 0-23 Other tissues . . . . . . . . 0-05 0-23 The amount of work carried out does not differ materially from that of recent years. We are glad to note some increase in the number of parents personally interviewed by School Medical Officers, 11,121 being seen this year. School Medical Officers and nurses carried out a considerable amount of work in co-operation with various philanthropic and relief agencies during the recent period of depression, assisting in such activities as arrangements for distribution of milk at school, organizing and staffing of health camps, &c. This work has been most satisfactory, since it brought immediate practical assistance to children in need of it. In Dunedin a very satisfactory arrangement was made with the Employment Bureau, by which cases of subnormal nutrition were referred to Dr. Stevenson for investigation and examination, extra rations being provided as indicated. School Medical Officers have co-operated with the Cripple Children's Society in the work of ascertainment of cases and in regard to arrangements made for the welfare of individuals. Personal Hygiene.—The standard of clothing and cleanliness is on the whole good, and the incidence of skin-disease slight, difficulty in this respect being met with most frequently where facilities are inadequate, as in crowded city areas or in the backblocks. Incidence of Defect. —The incidence of defect (nose, throat, eye, ear, speech) as noted in figures above shows little variation from that of last year. As a result of the excellent work of the Division of Dental Hygiene, the percentage of children with clean mouths and filled teeth is steadily increasing, which makes generally for improved health. Treatment returns are not yet available, but it is evident that with the arrangement now in operation for securing the co-operation of District Nurses, treatment will be more readily arranged.

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