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7
Vision.
A comparatively small number of the children examined
during this year's Routine Inspection were found
to be suffering from defective vision who were not provided
with spectacles, the number being 191, or 9 per
cent. of the whole. It is very gratifying to feel that the
parents are now more willing to have their children's
eyesight attended to than formerly, and this, no doubt, at
the solicitation of the children themselves. On many
occasions I hear how much the child has benefited by the
use of spec tacles in its school work, and the greater ease
with which they are able to do this. I have noticed
amongst these little folks who wear spectacles a greater
alertness and enjoyment of life. Their faces denote a
more eager outlook on things, and I have no doubt in my
own mind they are better able to pick up and enjoy their
surroundings because they see. The children probably
talk to one another about this, and the parents share in
their knowledge of its benefits, and thus we have many
inquiries from parents who are anxious to have their
children's eyesight tested, apart from the Routine
Inspection.
Ear Disease.
Few cases are here recorded—only 10 in all. Under
the heading of " The Clinic " many more will be seen to
have been treated there during the year.
Dental Defects.
32 per cent. of the children are still suffering from
defective teeth. This includes from 1 carious tooth to
several. Here again, the percentage is lowered, because
of our past efforts in this direction. Very many of the
older children, 11 and 13 years of age, have now clean,
healthy mouths, many with complete dentures, many
showing evidence of attention having been given to them
in the past. The difference between the children of 5
years ago and those of the present year is very marked.
Formerly the condition of their mouths was not only unsightly,
but foul from oral sepsis—the result of carious