H.—3l.

Medical Examination of Teachers. During the year 1,147 applicants for entrance into the teaching profession were examined by School Medical Officers, and the following summary gives details of the examination Summary of Examination of Entrants to Teaching Profession. Number examined .. .. .. .. .. .. • • 1,147 Number with any defect of vision .. .. .. .. .. 186 Number wearing glasses .. .. .. .. . . . . 135 Number with defective hearing .. . . . . .. .. 9 Number with any past or present aural disease . . . . .. .. 10 Number with nose defect .. .. .. .. .. .. 28 Number with throat defects .. .. .. .. . . .. 75 Number with any enlarged thyroid .. .. . . .. . . 146 Teeth —• Number with any caries when seen .. .. .. .. 141 Number with one artificial plate .. .. .. .. .. 87 Number with upper and lower plates . . .. .. .. 30 Number with malocclusion . . .. .. .. . . . . 16 Number with any heart or lung condition . . .. . . .. 10 Number deferred for immediate treatment .. . . . . . . 140 Number considered as excellent . . .. . . . . . . 192 Numbered considered as average .. .. .. .. . . 809 Number considered as fair . . . . . . .. .. .. 131 Number accepted .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,122 Number deferred for further examination .. .. .. .. 10 Number rejected .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 15 Dr. Dawson reports : " Thirty-eight candidates were examined and they were a good average type, _ physically, mentally, and socially ; they had taken trouble to appear at their best. The examination of candidates in Hawera, Stratford, and Opunake early in the year was very useful, and enabled the candidates to correct minor disabilities." Although the examination of prospective applicants for entrance into the teaching profession during their last year of school life was again carried out and it is realized that all candidates cannot be reached in this manner, nevertheless it is regrettable to find 140 candidates presenting themselves at the end of the year requiring immediate treatment; this number must certainly have included some who had the advantages of the preliminary examination. It is apparent that candidates and their parents fail to recognize that this preliminary medical examination, as well as determining whether the candidates are physically fit for the teaching profession, should serve as an indication that physical well-being is of the utmost importance, and the question arises as to whether candidates should be entitled to the final medical examination unless they have evidence that the defects previously notified have been attended to. Kindergartens and Pre-school Children. The routine medical examination of kindergartens was carried out in Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin, the result of 335 kindergarten children being as follows :— Number of children examined .. .. .. .. .. 335 Percentage found to have defects .. .. .. .. 80 • 30 Percentage with defects other than dental .. .. .. .. 61 -49 Percentage of children showing evidence of — Subnormal nutrition .. .. .. .. .. .. 1-79 Pediculosis .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 0-60 Uncleanliness .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 0• 30 Skin — Impetigo .. .. .. .. .. .. .. o-30 Scabies .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ]. 49 Ringworm .. .. .. .. .. .. o-60 Other skin-diseases .. .. .. .. .. .. 2-98 Heart — Organic disease .. .. .. .. .. .. 0-30 Respiratory disease .. .. .. .. .. ~ 2-69 Total deformities of trunk and chest .. .. .. .. 5-38 Mouth — * Deformity of jaw or palate, including irregularity .. .. 0-30 Dental caries .. .. .. .. .. ..35-22 Fillings .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 8-06 Perfect sets of teeth .. .. .. .. ..33-13 Nasal obstruction .. .. .. .. .. .. 7.16 Enlarged tonsils .. .. .. .. .. 22 • 09 Enlarged glands .. .. .. .. .. 23 • 28 Goitre, all degrees .. .. .. .. .. .. 3-58 Ear, otorrhcea .. .. . . . . .. .. , . 0-30 Defective speech .. .. .. ... .. .. o-89 School Medical Officers express appreciation of the unsparing efforts of kindergarten teachers in their care of these small pupils.

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