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of whom were treated by their family doctors. The number of
children suffering from ophthalmia and conjunctivitis was small
(28 cases from a school roll of 37,502), but since these highly infectious
diseases are transmitted by poor personal standards and lack
of hygiene, even such a small figure as this must be further reduced.
The care of the handicapped child
In the introduction some reference has been made to specific
difficulties arising in relation to placement. In providing a school
health service for handicapped children the responsibility falling on
the examining medical officer is a heavy one and decisions and
recommendations cannot be taken without knowledge not only of
the presenting handicap but of the attendant difficulties, problems
and needs of handicapped children in the family group. Every
encouragement should therefore be given to school medical officers
working in the clinical field to gain experience and satisfaction in
the type of work that interests them and in which they are expert.
The various tables in the report contain the findings and
statistical information relating to examinations under Sections 34,
57 (as amended) and 57A of the Education Act, 1944.
With regard to mental subnormality, there is a close link
between the education and the mental health side in respect of
children deemed unsuitable for education at school and who can
be accepted for admission to the Junior Centre.
Number of children of all ages noted for treatment or
observation expressed as a rate per 1,000 inspected
Number Inspected 14,972
Defects Treatment Observation
1965 *1964 1965 *1964
Skin 5.88 5.95 8.95 6.73
Eyes
(a) Vision 86.43 27.99
(b) Squint 7.41 3.47
(c) Other 2.47 2.87
Ears
(a) Hearing 6.28 3.72 4.61 4.58
(b) Otitis media 3.41 2.61 3.47 4.25
(c) Other 0.53 1.00
Nose and Throat 8.82 26.13
Speech 3.67 3.46 8.28 5.95
Lymphatic Glands — 2.27
Heart 3.07 3.40 10.22 8.24
Lungs 7.08 9.81 8.82 11.31
Developmental
(a) Hernia 0.73 1.24 1.87 2.22
(b) Other 1.14 5.28