H.—3l.

PART lII.—SCHOOL HYGIENE. I have the honour to report on the work of the Division of School Hygiene for the year ended 31st March, 1940. Staff. At the present time the permanent staff consists of a Director, 15 School Medical Officers, and 4 Medical Officers who in their districts are appointed to act as Medical Officers of Health and School Medical Officers. The four School Medical Officers appointed from overseas have taken up duty as follows : Dr. Mavis Zane, Auckland ; Dr. Edna Mackenzie, Hamilton ; Dr. Fannie Hirst, Wellington ; and Dr. Jane Druker, Christchurch. In addition, Dr. Charles W. Parr was appointed in May to the School Medical Service, and he carried out school medical inspection duties in North Auckland until December ; he was in February again appointed to the North Auckland district. Figures relating to Work accomplished in 1939. The following summary serves to indicate the extent of work accomplished during the school period, February to December, 1939 :— Schools inspected—• Of roll under 100 .. .. .. .. .. 940 Of roll 100 to 500 .. .. .. .. .. 430 Of roll over 500 .. .. .. .. ~ 137 1,507 Children examined— Complete examinations .. .. .. .. 84,415 Partial examinations .. . . .. .. .. 39,670 124,085 Number of children notified as defective .. .. .. .. 44,091 Number of addresses to school-children .. .. .. .. 547 Number of parents interviewed .. .. .. .. .. 18,084 Number of lectures or addresses to parents .. .. .. .. 92 Summary of Complete Examinations. European. Maori. Number of children examined .. .. .. .. 73,751 5,715 Percentage found to have defects .. .. .. 52-69 65-81 Percentage with defects other than dental . . .. 30-33 31-51 Percentage of children showing evidence of— Subnormal nutrition .. .. .. .. 4-37 3-41 Pediculosis .. .. .. .. .. 0-31 4-39 Uncleanliness .. .. .. .. .. 0-72 1-82 Skin— Impetigo .. .. .. .. .. 0-57 2-75 Scabies .. .. .. .. .. 0-32 15-50 Ringworm .. .. .. .. .. 0-15 0-17 Other skin-diseases .. .. .. .. 0-93 0-45 Heart— Organic disease .. .. .. .. 0-38 0-35 Functional disturbance .. .. .. 0-66 1 ■ 14 Respiratory disease .. .. .. .. 0-62 2-22 Total physical deformities .. .. .. .. 6-60 5-00 Mouth— Deformities of jaw or palate .. .. .. 2-41 0-54 Dental caries .. .. .. .. 30-36 51-44 Extractions of permanent teeth .. .. 6-4-9 3-01 Fillings .. .. .. .. .. 59-20 20-09 Perfect sets of teeth .. .. .. .. 4-46 15-27 Nose and throat— Nasal obstruction .. .. .. .. 1-58 0-93 Enlarged tonsils .. .. . . . . 15-43 15-99 Enlarged glands .. .. .. .. .. 6-81 5-84 Goitre— All degrees .. .. .. .. .. 13-28 5-72 Incipient .. .. .. .. .. 10-61 5-25 Small .. .. .. .. .. 2-36 0-35 Medium .. .. .. .. .. 0-25 0-07 Large .. .. .. .. .. 0-06 0-05

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