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Enlarged cervical glands were recorded most often in the
Entrants group in both sexes; a finding of interest as a pointer
to the need for the pre-school age medical supervision which is
lacking at the present time.
The influence of school work on eyesight is shown by the
higher figures for the Leaver group, and if these figures are contrasted
with those for secondary school children, it is seen that
the latter are even less favourable. This is not the actual amount
of defective vision, as children whose vision is normal by the aid
of spectacles, are classified as having normal vision.
There is no doubt that school work does lead to a breakdown
of normal vision in a fairly high proportion of school
children. Although difficult of exact proof, there is some reason
to believe that a larger proportion of the adult popoulation now
wear spectacles than was the case in by-gone years. This, in itself,
may only mean that more care is taken to preserve eyesight than
formerly—an outcome of the educational and practical activities
of the School Medical Service.
The number of children suffering from circulatory defects is
high, and is mainly caused by the ravages of rheumatism upon
the heart and its valves. The figure is, however, lower than for
last year.
The average standard of cleanliness showed a welcome
improvement. The incidence of various defects on the different
age groups is an instructive finding. There is a steady rise in
those defects which might arise from educational stress, and a
steady fall in defects readily amenable to measures operated under
the School Medical Services.
The following Table was compiled from the findings at
routine medical inspections, in order to ascertain the amount of
visual defect in the particular children examined in the various
schools. It relates only to children who were referred from
routine medical inspections for treatment or observation and who
were consequently thought to be in need of spectacles.