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219
FINDINGS AT ROUTINE MEDICAL INSPECTIONS
Uncleanliness.
Frequent special inspections are made by the school nurses
at the schools.
At these uncleanliness surveys the health visitors made 502
inspections at schools. At the primary inspections they found
vermin in 239, and nits alone in 2,394 children. On these inspections,
4.0 per cent. of the children showed evidence of infestation
as against 4.3 in 1931 and 4.1 in 1930. In connection with these
findings it must be stated that as children in unsatisfactory families
are subject to repeated examinations, they naturally raise the total
percentage found unclean.
Clothing and Footgear.
At routine medical inspections 98.9 per cent. of the boys and
99.2 girls were clothed and shod properly. Close scrutiny has
been exerted by the medical inspectors and the findings are satisfactory.
Nutrition.
In the entrants 6.4 per cent. of the boys and 7.6 per cent.
of the girls were below average nutrition. In the intermediate
14.7 per cent. of the boys and 13.7 per cent. of the girls were
under average; in the leavers 7.8 per cent. boys and 10.4 percent.
girls, giving in the whole school groups examined 10.3 per cent.
of the children as under average nutrition.
The figures are lower than in 1931. There appears to be a
progressive improvement. These findings should be taken in conjunction
with the more elaborate analysis contained in Table III.
The subject of child nutrition is a complex one and is dependent
on many and diverse factors. Efficient mother-care is the dominant
influence. This does not mean meticulous solicitation for the
child's welfare, but a sensible realisation of the child as a growing,
active being, who, although needing protection, will not respond
to coddling, and whose thoughts should be directed towards health
and not ill-health,