View report page

127
(b) Exceptional Children.
Towards the termination of routine medical inspection in
each school, teachers are requested to bring before the School
Medical Officer any special cases who may require examination,
and to include amongst these all cases falling within the category
of "exceptional children" (Table III). In this way an annual
census of all cripples is rendered possible, whilst particulars may
be obtained and advice given as to their progress and treatment.
(c) Places of Medical Inspection.
The work of medical inspection is carried out during
school hours and on school premises in every case, anil disturb-'
ance of school arrangements is reduced to a minimum.
5. FINDINGS OF MEDICAL INSPECTIONS.
The following comparative table serves to indicate the number
and percentage of children found to be in need of medical or surgical
treatment in the three age groups inspected during the year,
and, although there is a considerable reduction in this percentage
as compared with that of the previous year, it will be noticed that
the average remains fairly constant; the probable reason for this
was outlined in my report for last year.
The percentage in the case of the Entrant Group shows a
gratifying reduction, although small. With a satisfactory scheme
of routine medical examination such as is anticipated it will be
possible to overcome the problem of complete medical supervision
of children under school age.
It is very interesting to consider the figure which represents
the percentage of children found to require treatment in the
Leaver Group (6.2) and to compare this with the figure for the
Entrant Group in the year 1924, which embraces, for the most
part, the same children at the age of five years. The latter figure
was 15.97 per cent. and the inference demonstrates the very satisfactory
results achieved by the School Medical Service.