H—3l

health was good. Mantoux testing was done, all positive reactors being x-rayed, and a minority referred to the chest clinic for serial x-rays and specialist supervision. In this age group, 15-17 years, the positive reactors to the Mantoux test average 20 per cent, in the areas studied, and by the age of 19 years 32 per cent, have become positive. >. Conference of Medical Officers During the year a refresher course for medical officers engaged in child-hygiene work was held in Wellington, lasting one week. The physical, psychological, and specialized medical needs of the pre-school child were reviewed. The course was found valuable and much appreciated by the medical personnel. The lectures given at this course will soon be issued in pamphlet form for the use of those interested. Immunization Against Disease Whooping-cough.—Departmental medical officers immunize on request only babies and toddlers between the ages of 3 months and 2 years. During the year, 5,148 complete courses of whooping-cough vaccine were given. Typhoid Fever.—Maori children attending primary schools were vaccinated with triple vaccine in the autumn term against typhoid and paratyphoid fevers. During the •year 19,521 of these vaccinations were done by District Nurses. Diphtheria.—Departmental nurses and medical officers carried out anti-diphtheria immunizations to a total of 29,181 complete courses of prophylactic.

Table 18—Diphtheria Immunization

This does not give a complete picture of the state of artificial immunity in New Zealand, as private practitioners are doing an increasing amount of this work and are failing as a body to keep the Department informed of numbers done, although they accept free prophylactic fjom the Department on the understanding that such returns are made in due course. Health Camps As in previous years, officers of the Department concerned with child hygiene continued to recommend for treatment in approved health camps some 3,000 children found to have defects which could possibly be corrected by the treatment offered in the camps. The Department maintains a general oversight of camps through the Medical Officers of Health and appoints matrons and sub-matrons from the registered nursing staff of the Department.

34

Health District. Babies, 8 Months, to 1 Year. Pre-school, 1 up to 5 Years. School, 5 up to 10 Years. School, 10 up to 15 Years. Total. North Auckland 1,725 465 88 3 2,281 Central Auckland and Thames - 2,407 1,593 130 4 4,134 Tauranga South Auckland 829 661 823 99 2,412 East Cape .. - 367 1,312 292 10 1,981 Taranaki 592 641 153 9 1,395 Wellington - Hawkes Bay 937 1,277 139 8 2,261 Central Wellington 1,674 1,134 2,643 42 5,493 Nelson-Marlborough 295 215 93 3 606 Christchurch - West Coast 1,352 1,847 1,429 5 4,633 Timaru 471 763 149 21 1,404 Dunedin 242 522 174 26 964 Southland 1,087 394 20 16 1,517 Totals 11,978 10,824 6,133 246 29,181