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105
GENERAL REVIEW OF THE PRINCIPAL
DEFECTS DISCLOSED BY EXAMINATION.
Vision.— In Infants' schools this is not tested. Boys and
girls are examined by means of Snellen's test types, those able
to read 6/12 being passed as satisfactory, those with less acute
vision being termed defective.
Of the 665 boys examined, 74, equal to 11.4 per cent., had
defective sight. Of 888 girls who were examined, 63 required
glasses, equal to 7.1 per cent. These cases were all advised
to obtain treatment.
In 13 cases the vision was only 6/60, such children
when in class would not be able to read anything on a blackboard,
they would sufter from constant eye strain and the
teachers would be handicapped in their efforts. The parents
of most of these children were entirely unaware of the presence
of such a serious defect.
Adenoids and Enlarged Tonsils.— Children suffering from
there are usually dull and backward, the hearing is often
defective, the mouth is constantly open giving a vacant
expression, and such children are more liable to colds and
various infectious diseases. A slight operation for the removal
of these growths leads to enormous improvement in both the
physical and mental condition. The slight cases were ignored
and only the severe ones where obstruction was marked were
advised to obtain treatment. This was considered advisable
in no less than 271 cases.
Teeth.— Of the 3623 children examined only 1383 had
perfect teeth, 1313 children had three or less decayed, 927
had four or more decayed teeth.
A considerable amount of ill health is caused by decayed
and dirty teeth, this is due not only to defective mastication
of food, but also to the continual swallowing of foul, septic,
decayed matter.