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By totalling these results an idea of the numbers who require some attention can be
obtained. It is to be remembered that children are only returned as defective in vision whose
education is likely to be seriously hampered by their defect and many are not given advice cards
where permanent damage (opacities, scarring, etc.) has already occurred. Children below
Standard V. are only included if the visual acuity is 6-18th or worse, and over Standard V. for
6-12th or worse. Further, many cases would be benefited by treatment which escape our net in
school.

As a result of the vision testing treatment was recommended for nearly 30,000 children
during the past year, and towards this some of the hospitals with ophthalmic outpatient days once
or twice a week have such pressure of more urgent cases that they are only prepared to admit 14
to 20 school children on any one day*
To cope with this great work as a public service the Council would require half a dozen
school clinics open daily for at least half the day. The rest of the time would soon be required for
other work. Each centre by hard work could manage about 150 new cases weekly and thus just
meet the demand.
THE ARTIFICIAL LIGHTING OF SCHOOLROOMS.
Schoolrooms are artificially lighted by gas or by electricity. Electric lighting has advantages
of cleanliness, absence of heat, and freedom from deterioration of the air. The rapid deterioration of
the atmospheric condition from gas lighting has been stated incidentally in previous reports on ventilation.
The drawback to electric lighting is its cost, which, based on estimates derived from a dozen
schools during 1905, amounted, in the case of electric lighting, to 1.7 that of gas. Quite apart from
this question of relative cost, the illumination of the classrooms required investigation. Mr. Bishop
Harman undertook an enquiry, and has furnished the following report as to the best positions of the
sources of light, and the best distribution of the light, and what simple improvements could be
suggested. His experimental observations were done in schoolrooms and in his own laboratory.
Photometry. The simple photometric methods of the physical laboratory, by the comparison
of shadows, or by Bunsen's grease spot method, fail in this work, and an instrument has to be
* No further reference need now be made to the question of hospital service in relation to tho schools. I
may be taken as sub judice having been referred to a Hybrid Committee for enquiry.