11.—31

PAET lII.—SCHOOL HYGIENE.

I have the honour to report on the work of the Division of School Hygiene for the year ended 31st March, 1937. Staff. During the year Drs. Bakewell and Abbott left New Zealand on extended leave of absence. The following new appointments were made to the staff : — School Medical Officers. —Dr. M. H. Deem, Hamilton; Dr. A. H. Platts-Mills, Wellington; and Dr. S. Mulholland, Christchurch. School Nurses. —Miss E. M. Armstrong, Auckland ; Miss G. E. Barclay, Christchurch ; Misses M. E. Browne and A. F. Smith, Wellington ; and Miss E. MacGregor, Wanganui. Figures relating to Work accomplished in 1936. The following summary serves to indicate the extent of work accomplished during the school period, February to December, 1936 : — Schools inspected — Of roll under 100 .. .. . . .. .. 748 Of roll 100 to 500 .. .. .. .. .. 330 Of roll over 500 .. .. .. .. .. 104 1,182 Children examined — Complete examinations .. .. .. .. .. 63,851 Partial examinations .. .. .. .. ..35,079 98,930 Number of notifications sent to parents .. .. .. .. 39,362 Number of addresses to school-children .. .. .. .. 482 Number of parents interviewed .. .. .. .. .. 14,512 Number of lectures or addresses to parents .. .. .. .. 27 The figures for the work of the school nurses are as follows : — Number of days assisted Medical Officer in schools .. .. .. 1,520 Number of children examined for medical schedule (H. Sch. 14) .. . . 94,187 Number of days engaged wholly in clerical work .. .. .. 836^ Number of children re-examined after Medical Officer's inspection .. 31,756 Number of children examined by special request .. .. .. 10,706 Number of visits to homes inLarge towns .. .. .. .. .. 6,290 Small country towns .. .. .. .. .. 1,210 Scattered districts .. .. .. .. .. 1,699 —— 9,199 Number of children taken personally to hospital, &c. .. .. .. 276 Number of children taken personally to dental clinic .. .. .. 194 Number of health talks given .. .. .. .. .. 1,215 Summary of Complete Examinations. European. Maori. Number of children examined .. .. .. .. 63,435 4,896 Percentage found to have defects .. .. .. 68-84 76-34 Percentage with defects other than dental .. .. 51-23 58-82 Percentage of children showing evidence of — Subnormal nutrition .. .. .. .. 4-31 6-45 Pediculosis .. .. .. .. .. 0-68 9-27 Uncleanliness .. .. .. .. .. 1-08 3-37 SkinImpetigo .. .. .. .. .. 1-18 5-53 Scabies .. .. .. .. .. 0-66 22-99 Ringworm .. .. .. .. .. 0-22 0-22 Other skin-diseases .. .. .. .. 1-52 2-45 HeartOrganic disease .. .. .. .. 0-62 0-36 Functional disturbance .. .. .. 1-08 1-47 Respiratory disease .. .. .. .. 1-32 1-47 Total physical deformities .. .. .. ..12-13 15-80 MouthDeformities of jaw or palate, including irregularity 3-40 2-43 Dental caries .. .. •■ .. 33-67 47-16 Extractions of permanent teeth .. .. 5-21 3-02 Fillings .. .. •■ •■ •• 52-37 12-78 Perfect sets of teeth .. .. .. .. 5-33 18-01

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