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5
Uncleanliness.
In my last report I drew attention to the regrettable
increase in the number of children found to be verminous in
the inspections at the schools, and gave the total loss of
attendances as a consequence for their exclusion for this reason.
The figures for the year under review show some improvement
in this respect, but this improvement does not by any means
justify complacency in this matter.
Reference to Table IV reveals that 243 children were
found to be suffering from this condition as compared with 306
last year.

There is a slight increase in the incidence of infective skin
diseases.
Visual Defects and External Eye Disease.
The following Notes have been supplied by the Ophthalmic
Surgeon (Dr. N. Howard Allen).
During the last year the Ophthalmic department has been
carried on, with the addition of children seen for Minor Ailments
since last September—the combined clinic working
quite satisfactorily. The majority of children are old cases
attending for routine inspection; the new cases being those
referred on account of defective vision or diseases of the eye
by the School Medical Officers. At each session about 10
Refractions are performed, these cases being composed of old
cases requiring fresh examination and new cases requiring
Retinoscopy. The number of cases seen on account of such
complaints as Blepharitis, Corneal Ulceration, Squint, etc.,
number about 15 per cent.