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151
should play an important part in the curriculum. These
children, like all abnormals, need frequent medical examination,
both as to their general physical condition and as to
the eye defect, which frequently changes rapidly.
Myopic, i.e., shortsighted, children who can see just
well enough to remain in an ordinary elementary school and
yet who really should be classified as "partially blind,"
may easily have great harm done to their already poor eyesight
by the strain of attempting to keep up with the other
children, in class-rooms which may be insufficiently lighted,
and where in any case it is impossible to make special provision
for one afflicted child.
The sight of a great number of blind and partiallyblind
children would have been saved if proper treatment
had been obtained early, especially in the case of impaired
vision due to ophthalmia neonatorum, or inflammation of
the eyes of new-born babies. Unless immediate and efficient
treatment is carried out total or partial blindness nearly
always follows this disease.
Provision for the treatment of this condition is now
made at the Eye Clinic.
Deaf and Partially Deaf Children.—A school for the
deaf is not maintained by the local Education Authority,
but certain children resident within the area of the Authority
are educated by deaf methods at approved institutions.
The following Table, No. 84, gives particulars of deal
children being educated by the Education Committee at the
end of the year 1914.