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62
The School Medical Officer gives teachers valuable support in
any effort they may make to arouse the better feelings of the
apathetic or negligent parent.
(7) Generally, we feel no doubt that the medical
inspection has done much towards bringing to view defects,
the treatment of which secures the child from unnecessary
suffering, and may save him from serious trouble in after life.
Finally, we desire to point out now small is expenditure
which inspection involves; in no urban area does it require
more than one tenth of a penny rate—generally not so much.
After all, medical inspection is but now making a beginning,
and there is every reason to hope that as time goes on its
value will become more widely recognised by the parents,
and that the results it produces will thus become more
completely satisfactory.
INFECTIOUS DISEASE.
From the table of infectious diseases in the schools, for
1904 and 1905, it will be seen that the past year compares
favourably with the year 1904 in the more serious infectious
deseases.
In the table this year a double column has been placed,
shewing the children who have been actually suffering from
the disease, and also the number of contacts, or children from
the infected houses who have been excluded from school in
consequence. Thus it will be seen that out of a total number
of 1,009 children who have been excluded from school as
suffering from infectious disease, 709 other children have also
been excluded who have been in contact with the affected
children. It is surprising what a large proportion of children
are involved, and what a serious matter it is from a financial