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81
Dental
condition
The percentage of children, aged 12, with sound teeth was : boys, 87.1 ; girls,
82.7 ; but at the age of 15 this percentage had decreased to 81.8 per cent, among
boys and to 78.3 per cent, among girls. Of cases of widespread dental decay where
4 or more teetn were affected, the percentage among boys and girls of 12 years old
was 1.8 and 1.1, respectively, compared with .9 in boys and .9 in girls leaving
elementary schools.
Vision
At the age of 12, 81.4 per cent, of the boys and 74.2 per cent, of the girls were
able to pass the vision test, compared with 70.8 and 68.2 in elementary school
leavers. In secondary schools, 16.0 per cent, of the boys and 18.2 per cent, of girls
were wearing glasses at the age of 12, but at the age of 15 the percentages were 19.6
boys and 23.0 girls.
In spite of the greater percentage wearing glasses at the age of 15, the percentage
of pupils passing the vision test was less, viz., 77.1 per cent, among boys and 71.8
per cent, among girls, suggesting that the more serious strain in reading has a detrimental
effect upon the eyesight.
Better eyesight among boys than girls is still a noteworthy feature of the results
of school medical inspection.
The deterioration in visual acuity which takes place during school life is emphasised
by the figures for more serious defect (6.12 or worse) which rises between
12 and 15 from 8.8 to 11.9 per cent, in secondary school boys, and from 13.9 to
15.4 per cent, in girls.
Nutrition
The nutritional state of the pupils in the secondary schools, as returned by the
school doctors, is very similar to that of the leavers in elementary schools, 5.0 per
cent, being returned as subnormal.
Defects
During the year, 3,490 pupils (22.1 per cent.) were referred for treatment for
various defects. Heart defect was noted in 2.2 per cent, boys and 3.0 per cent,
girls ; defects of nose and throat in 2 .1 per cent, boys and 5.2 per cent, girls ; ear
disease in .4 per cent, boys and .3 per cent, girls ; anasmia and debility in 1.2 per
cent, boys and 1 .8 per cent, girls.
In the secondary schools there are more cases than in the elementary schools
of postural defects, especially in girls, such as curvature of the spine. Such postural
defect of the spine was noted in .9 per cent, of boys at 12 and 1.7 per cent, at 15,
but in girls the amount of this defect was much greater, viz., 10.1 per cent, at 12 and
9.0 at 15.
The increase, between ages 12 and 15 in institutions of higher education, of
defect of vision and dental caries is disturbing.
Re.
inspection
The re.inspection of 3,247 pupils in higher education institutions was carried out;
1,640 defects had been satisfactorily treated, 467 were under, treatment, 753 had
had treatment but needed further treatment, and in 616 cases no treatment had been
obtained.
The following.up of defects discovered at secondary schools is undertaken by the
head masters and mistresses. When the parent is not present, a letter recommending
treatment is sent, generally in the name of the head master or mistress.
Scholarship children attending secondary and trade schools are given the same
facilities for medical treatment under the Council's arrangements as children in
elementary schools, provided that they are entitled to either partial or full remission
of educational fees.
For fee.paying pupils at secondary schools who have been inspected by the
Council's medical officers or doctors appointed by the governors, arrangements are
made when necessary for medical treatment to be received under the Council's
scheme provided that (i) the parents cannot afford to make private arrangements
and (ii) payment is made therefor.
Training
colleges
Of the 1,057 students examined in training colleges, 3 were found to be suffering
from extensive dental caries; 78.5 per cent of the men and 81.4 of the women
passed the vision test, but 33 . 6 per cent, of the men and 36 . 5 per cent, of the women
were wearing glasses. While none of the men was classified as below normal innutrition,
no less than 7 . 2 per cent, of the women were placed in the subnormal class.