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5
The medical staff at the end of 1908 numbers 52. The permanent staff, including the Medical
Officer (Education), one assistant medical officer giving whole time, two assistants giving half time,
and eight assistants giving quarter time—of whom three are women. The statutory medical
inspection of elementary school children is carried out by a temporary staff of 16 school doctors,
each in charge of a district, and having one or more assistant school doctors, of whom there
are 24. It has been decided to increase the staff by the addition of 16 assistant school doctors
in the summer and another 16 in 1910, so that ultimately there will be 72 members of this temporary
staff giving quarter-time. Each of the temporary staff serves for a period of three years. The school
nursing staff consists of a superintendent, two assistants, and 51 school nurses; they undertake the
oversight of personal hygiene in both elementary and secondary schools.
Routine Inspection.—In the routine medical inspection the head teachers are asked to place
on a form the names of all children known to them as presenting any abnormality (except vision). The
school doctor, after giving due notice, visits the school and sees the children selected by the teacher
and especially notes any cases presenting defects of hearing, brain, speech, limbs or nutrition, and a
card is left with the teacher for each child requiring treatment. The doctor then goes over the school
and notes any defects in regard to the general arrangement of the building( environment, etc.) ; general
condition of the school (window and artificial lighting, heating, ventilation, building, sanitation, desks
and seating) ; general condition of the children (physique, teeth, nutrition, etc.) ; the hygiene of school
work (hours of work, modes of work, reading, writing, drawing, manual work, recreation, exercise) ;
and any other matters which affect the health of the teachers and children and the physiological
development of the latter. Should the doctor discover any child who, in his opinion, should be
medically examined with a view to being admitted to a special school, the teacher is asked to fill up and
forward a nomination form to the head office. The teacher has an opportunity of discussing with the
doctor any matters affecting the health of the school.
Vision.—The vision of all the children is tested once in 12 months, one half of the schools in
April and the other half in September. The preliminary test is done by the teacher, and the names
of all children in standards I., II., III. and IV. whose vision is 6/18 or worse, and children in standard
V. and above'whose vision is 6/12 or worse, are placed on a form provided for the purpose. When the
doctor visits the school he tests the vision of the children returned as defective and gives the teacher
a red or green card according to the amount of defect found, for each child who should seek advice.
These cards are distributed to the children a few at a time so as not to cause inconvenience to the
hospital authorities. The teacher notes in the attendance register the number (6, 9, 12, 18, etc.), expressing
the visual acuity, against the name of the child.
Medical Register.—A medical register is now kept at each school in which the doctor notes any
school conditions which are detrimental to the health and well-being of the teachers and children, and
enters the name of any child where conditions exist such as discharging ears, very defective vision,
etc., where managers could assist in obtaining relief. When the examination has been completed,
the doctor's report is forwarded to the head office, where the conditions are noted and any matters
requiring attention are dealt with. The following summary is compiled from these reports :—
1st April, 1907, to 31st March, 1908 :—

* Apart from vision te3ting, for which see p. 54.