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During the year 14,284 pupils were examined, an increase of 814 over the previous
year, and in 4,096 cases records were reviewed, but detailed examinations were not
deemed necessary. As might be expected, the children in the secondary schools
show a general superiority in physical fitness over children in the elementary schools.
In four cases the clothing was found to be poor and in one girl infestation with head
vermin was noted.
The percentage of children, aged 12, with sound teeth was: boys, 75.7; girls,
79.7; but at the age of 15 this percentage had fallen by 6 per cent, among boys
and 4 per cent, among girls. Of cases of widespread dental decay where 4 or more
teeth were affected, the percentage among boys and girls of 12 years old was 1.1
and .9 respectively, compared with 1.7 and 1.4 in elementary schools at this age.
At the age of 12, 70.4 per cent. of the boys and 68.7 per cent, of the girls were
able to pass the vision test, compared with 61.6 and 59.4 in elementary schools;
but, whereas in elementary schools the vision of children leaving at 14 years of age
is better than that of the children of 12, the reverse is the case in the secondary schools,
suggesting that the more serious strain in reading has a detrimental effect upon the eyesight.
In secondary schools 15.7 per cent. of the boys and 18.5 per cent. of girls
were wearing glasses at the age of 12, but at age 15 the percentages were 17.1 boys
and 19.8 girls.
The children in secondary schools are, as far as scholarship cases are concerned,
selected children, and no child is admitted who is deemed incapable by reason of illhealth
of benefiting from the education provided. Cases of heart disease, defects
of nose and throat, and ear disease are rarer than in elementary schools, where there
is no selection beyond that of drafting to special schools. Yet in the secondary schools
there are more cases of postural defects such as curvature of the spine, again showing
the effect of more intensive study, and in these cases also the incidence is higher at
the age of 15 than at the age of 12.
Of the 1,233 students examined in training colleges, 5 were found to be suffering
from extensive dental caries; 76.5 of the men and 77.4 of the women passed the
vision test, but 30.9 per cent, of the men and 31.9 of the women were wearing glasses.
The re-inspection of 3,225 pupils (involving 3,494 ailments) was carried out;
1,602 defects had been remedied, 877 had improved, and in 1,015 (mostly dental
cases) there was no improvement. There is, perhaps, still too little attention paid in
certain places of higher education to the pursuit of health, and it may be that sacrifice
is made to striving for examination results at the expense of the cultivation of healthy
bodies.
Following-up.
The returns of the school doctors who re-inspect children found at the routine
inspections in elementary schools to be ailing and in need of treatment make it possible
to compile a statistical record of following-up. During 1931, 169,029 children were
re-inspected; 132,622 had been noted as having one or more ailments requiring treatment,
and 36,407 were being kept under observation. At the first re-inspection
108,797 cases of defects requiring treatment and 23,333 observation cases were
reviewed. At the second re-inspection 61,077 treatment and 13,074 observation cases
not cleared up at a first re-inspection were again reviewed. By combining the results
of both re-inspections it is found that 81.6 per cent. of the children re-inspected were
treated or discharged as no longer requiring treatment. This result is .9 per cent.
better than last year and is the highest percentage yet recorded.
Dental
condition.
Vision.
Training
colleges.
Re-
inspection.