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70
Hygiene of School Life,"says" Medical Inspection, then,
may have two objects. First it may be for statistical
purposes. But secondly, the chief objective of medical
inspection, after all, is the benefit it should bring to the
individual child, and the perfectness and satisfactory
character of the methods must be judged mainly from this
standpoint." In carrying out any work of this kind it seems
to me most necessary to carry this object in mind, so that
medical inspection is not the mere medical examination and
provision of spectacles for defective sight, important though
that may be; it has the more practical and comprehensive
end in view to see that each child is mentally and physically
capable of receiving the greatest benefit from the education
provided for it, and, if it is not, to place the child in the best
way of being able to utilise its opportunities. It is in this
way that the work of medical inspection blends with the
Public Health work of the district, as it is impossible to
separate the child from its home surroundings. As far as
this district is concerned, what is most required at the
present time is more Medical Assistance, so that the Board
of Education's requirements may be carried out. I drew
attention to this need in my last year's report. In April the
Education Committee passed the following recommendation :
"That no steps be taken at present to obtain medical
assistance, but that it be an instruction to the Medical
Officer to examine during the ensuing year only
children admitted to the schools during the year."
In September after the issue of the fresh instructions by the
Board of Education in Article 58 (B) of the Code for the
current year, regarding the children to be examined, I
pointed out the impossibility of my completing the number
as laid down by the Board. Accordingly the Committee
instructed me "To examine during the current year all
children entering the schools and also (if possible) children