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87
TEETH.
The condition of the teeth is a problem which will have
to be dealt with in a more drastic way in the near future.
It is well known that septic conditions of the mouth due to
decayed teeth are the cause of many conditions of ill-health.
As a rule no notice is taken of this subject until attention is
called to it by actual toothache, and often by this time the
tooth is beyond all hope of repair. Until opportunities are
given for treatment which will be within the reach of all to
get, one cannot look for much improvement in this direction.
A very considerable number of children were discovered with
defective teeth, and when it lis borne in mind that all with
four decayed are classed as "good" it will be seen that the
number 335 children classed under "fair" and "bad" means
that all these children had five or more decayed teeth.
It is very difficult to get mothers to understand the importance
of obtaining treatment, which necessarily means
time and expense, and thus the conditions which in some
cases are deplorable prevail during the whole of the child's
school life.
NOSE AND THROAT.
There i9 a welcome decrease in the percentage under this
head of 2.5 as compared with the previous year, but as I have
previously pointed out there stall appears to be too much
ignorance among the parents in regard to nose and throat
defects, and the possible harm which may result to the
children. I am bound to say, however, that when operations
have been advised the parents have in nearly every case seen
that they were carried out. It would perhaps be of advantage
if the teachers reported every case of mouth breathing so that
such children should be examined as soon as possible. If
cases are allowed to pass for even three years much mischief
may have been done.