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69
BLIND, DEAF, DEFECTIVE AND EPILEPTIC CHILDREN.
Specially defective children are ascertained through the
School Enquiry Officers, who report all such cases not attending
school, through the head-teachers who are expected to notify all
defective children immediately on admission to school, through the
School Nurses as a result of visiting the homes and though the Health
Visitors who discover the defective children before they are of
school age on being brought to the Health Centres by their mothers.
In these ways a fairly complete list of all specially defective children
can be kept.
On discovery, blind and deaf children are sent to Special
Residential Schools. Three blind girls and five blind boys were
being maintained at Certified Schools for the Blind at the end of
the year. Five boys and five girls, considered to be partially
blind on account of myopia, attended public elementary schools
under particular supervision, which consists in a special examination
even- three months or even oftener. Particular instructions
are given to the teachers and to the parents regarding
the proper care of these children, so as to avoid any excessive use
of the eyes or any severe physical exertion which might adversely
affect the condition of the eyes.
Eleven deaf-mutes, two boys and nine girls, were maintained
at Special Residential Schools.
Two boys were found to be suffering from severe epilepsy
and were kept at home. One has so far recovered that on the
earnest entreaty of the parents he has been allowed back to the
elementary school on trial. The other has been so ill that he
cannot even be sent to a Special Residential School. Seven children,
three boys and four girls, suffering from epilepsy of a mild nature,
were attending public elementary schools.
Ten feeble-minded children, seven girls and three boys, were
maintained at Special Residential Schools. There were also in
attendance at the public elementary schools 18 feeble-minded
children and one was kept at home. This child who was kept at
home was awaiting a vacancy in a Special School.
All feeble-minded children who are troublesome in school or
at home, or whose home circumstances are so unsatisfactory that
they cannot be properly cared for, are sent to Special Residential