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104
defects. A single child may, of course, be suffering from
more than one defect for which medical treatment is desirable,
but from the nurse's "following up" register I find that 214
children were recommended for medical treatment, this
number being approximately 14.0 per cent of those examined,
as compared with 14.9 for the year 1912. Some further particulars
of diseases and defects are given in the following
paragraphs. The booklet already mentioned gives some brief
notes upon these ailments, which I think it unnecessary to
reproduce here.
Visual Defects.
Of the 976 children examined in the Senior Departments
110 (=11.3%) had defective vision to a greater extent than
6/9 in one or both eyes. In 42 of these cases the children were
already provided with spectacles, although some of these
required alteration of the lenses. 51 other children had slight
visual defect, not calling for immediate treatment unless
causing headache, etc. Of the 110 cases of marked defect,
3 were due to corneal opacity, the result of early inflammation
of the eye. 11 cases of myopia were found, 6 amongst the
senior boys and 5 amongst the girls. The percentages were
as follows:—
542 senior boys examined, 6 were Myopio = 1.1%
434 senior girls examined, 5 wore Myopic = 1.1%
as compared with 1.1% in the senior boys, and 2.8% in the
senior girls in the year 1912.
Myopia or "short sight" is the kind of visual defect that
is liable to be progressive. Although, no doubt, many factors
enter ito its causation, there is strong evidence in support
of the view that eye-strain, especially of the young eye, is a
potent one. Every' effort is made to eliminate this factor
while the children are at school, and parents are always
warned to see that the same care is taken at home. If a
child is "short-sighted," it is of the greatest importance that
the eyes should be used as little as possible after school hours,