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139
CLEANLINESS.
Of the older girls 26 per cent, were found to have pediculi or
nits in their hair. This condition I have found much difficulty in
dealing with. The mothers, and I have interviewed many of them,
regard it quite philosophically, and are highly indignant when told
it is due to neglect. Their explanation is usually that it is due to
the season of the year, that it is in the nature of the child to breed
them and so on. There are some cases where there is no mother or
where the mother is an invalid that one can excuse, and in such
cases it seems to me that the best advice is to have the hair cut and
keep it short, but many object to do this.
Since the routine inspection has been commenced we have
been giving out a leaflet issued by the Society for the Prevention
of Cruelty to Children, which gives explicit instructions for ridding
the hair of pediculi and nits,
TEETH.
Among the elder children at least 16 per cent, require the
dentist's aid.
ENLARGED TONSILS, ADENOIDS and NASAL
CATARRH.
15"5 per cent, of the Infants suffered from these affections.
16 per cent, of the elder children suffered from these affections.
These were advised to obtain treatment.
VISION.
It is somewhat startling to find that 25 per cent, of the elder
children are defective to the extent of 6/12 at least. At present we
have no standard of comparison with those of younger age to enable
us to determine what proportion, if any, of these are due to faulty
school methods— e.g., strain of the eyes by too small reading types,
fine sewing, &c., as it has been found impossible to test the eyesight
of those on entering school, but in any case it indicates the