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(2) To look out for and try to check the earliest deviation from the normal in the
functioning of mind or body. These deviations may be very slight but they are
entered as defects and regarded with suspicion.
(3) To give the mother constructive as well as preventive ideas on the subject of mental
and physical hygiene.
(4) To study the previous histories as regards food, illnesses, and environmental
ditions in their bearing on the production of defects.
In the period under review 1,316 inspections were made of which 224 occurred in 1930, 497
in 1931 and 595 in 1932.
Certain unselected records are not available, and this report is based on 1,249 inspections,
grouped as follows:—
18 months 333 3 years 279
2 years 424 4 years 213

This medical examination of children under five years shows clearly by its findings the need
for treatment before school age of many of the conditions originally discovered in school entrants.
It also answers the question why these entrants do not come into school in an entirely healthy state,
and points the way to improvement. It is of great interest and educative value to the medical officer,
and probably of equal educative value to the mother in guiding her as to the nurture of her children.
It also leads to the correction in an early stage of many conditions which might otherwise have caused
serious ill health or unnecessary physical imperfection.
In so far, then, as it goes, it is an excellent method of caring for the pre-school child in the area,
and is a great advance on what was done previously.
The weak point about routine medical inspection by invitation is that the better type of mother
is the one more likely to accept it, and the children more in need of care are less likely to be reached.
Indeed, it is probable that failing some statutory obligation to attend, the full benefit of all the facilities
for health education and prevention of defects open to children under five years of age will not be
received by them.
Ophthalmia Neonatorum.—The number of cases of this disease notified during the year
was 28, as against 41 last year, giving a case rate of 10.2 per 1,000 registered live births. A private
doctor attended at the confinement in 9 cases, a midwife in 10 cases, 8 cases were born in hospital,
and in 1 case no information was available. Treatment was obtained at a hospital in 10 cases, at
the Municipal Centres in 8 cases, at a Voluntary Centre in 1 case, by a private doctor at home in
8 cases, and in 1 case no information was available. Complete recovery with unimpaired vision
occurred in 25 cases. In 3 cases the result of treatment was not ascertained.