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mild cnronic cases, to a defect of vision, and is rapidly cured
when this is corrected. In other cases it is most difficult to
cure, being characterised by a, tendency to relapse as soon
as treatment ceases.
Defective vision was found in 10% of the children
examined. The chief varieties of defective vision are:—
(1) Myopia or Short-Sight.—The main causes of this
defect have been summarised in previous reports as being
(a) hereditary predisposition, (b) bad hygienic conditions,
(c) defective illumination, (d) excessive use of eyes for close
work such as reading and sewing. So important are the
conditions under which the child works at school that the
term "School-Myopia" is frequently used. Special stress
must be laid on the provision of blackboards with a dull
black non-shining surface, and of books printed in pica on
unglazed paper.
It is an unfortunate custom in Ilford for girls who have
already used their eyes to a considerable extent at school to
practice music for an hour or more in the evening. This,
performed in rooms often defectively lighted, has been seen
in several cases to have a very injurious effect on the vision.
In most cases of myopia the condition is stationary. In a
few, however, it is progressive or malignant, and may result
in blindness. One case of progressive myopia was met with
in the schools during 1914. It is unfortunate that the
myope can see fine objects better than a normal person, and
therefore readily becomes a skilled needlewoman, but at the
expense of further injury to the vision. It is found difficult
to persuade parents of the truth of this statement.
(2) Hypermetropia or Long-Sight is a congenital condition.
It is not progressive, but is the commonest cause of
cross-eyes or internal squint, of which 26 cases were seen at
medical inspection. There are still parents in Ilford who
believe that a child can "grow out of a squint," and it is