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TO THE CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE
EDUCATION COMMITTEE.
Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I beg to present to you my Annual Report on the School
Medical Service. The year 1927 has not been productive of
anything worthy of special mention as regards the health of the
school children, which has remained satisfactory as a whole.
Though there has been a big incidence of Scarleit Fever, the degree
of severity of the disease has been slight, the percentage of
attendance in many schools has, however, been very adversely
affected. At the time of writing this report there is a considerable
increase in the incidencc of measles—this is likely to have a
much more adverse effect than the epidemic of Scarlet Fever.
Additional facilities for the operative treatment of Tonsils
and Adenoids will shortly be available at the Children's Hospital
at Balaam Street, where each case will be admitted to Hospital
on the day preceding the operation and will remain in the Hospital
until the day following the operation.
Permission has been obtained from the Board of Education
for the appointment of a fourth Dental Surgeon.
A scheme for the treatment of school children by Artificial
Sunlight has been forwarded to the Board of Education, and it
is hoped that the scheme will receive their approval.
Matters which should demand attention are the establishment
of Nursery Schools and the medical examination and supervision
of children between the ages of leaving school and coming under
the aegis of the National Insurance Act.
The question of introducing into the school curriculum more
definite and regular instruction in hygiene is worthy of the
consideration of the Committee.
Reference to the Tables set out on page 144 of this Report
will show that the physique of the school children has improved
to a remarkable degree during the past 13 years.
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