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99
filth conditions found on the bodies and clothing of children
examined. Thus 3.57 per cent. of the bodies of boys and 4.96
of the girls had been recently attacked by vermin, as shown
by the fleabitten condition of their bodies. About 5 per cent.
showed a somewhat dirty or dirty condition of their bodies,
indicating that no body bath had been used for several weeks
or, maybe, months.
Clothing and Footgear.—Parents usually dress and
prepare their children more carefully than usual for the day
of the inspection. The figures therefore given in the table
for defective clothing, footgear, and verminous conditions
are considerably under-estimated.
Vision.—Of the 3,653 children examined, 239 boys and
211 girls were found to have a more or less serious state of
defective eyesight. This gives a percentage of 12.05 for
boys and 12.81 for girls. All these required careful attention
from one specially experienced in eye examinations. But this
parents often cannot obtain, owing to the expense or the
difficulty in finding time to seek advice from a special
hospital outside the district. Through the eyes, most of the
education of the children is effected, and it is most important
that when defective they should not be strained, and thus
become liable to progressive deterioration. It is therefore
the duty of the education authorities to prevent this harm
being done to the children by providing means for treating
those suffering from defective vision. The Council have
already submitted a scheme to the Board for providing treatment
of these defects. If adopted, the Medical Officer will
supply prescriptions and enable parents to obtain the
necessary glasses at cost price.
Hearing.—Hearing was tested with the "forced
whisper" test. Considerably below 1 per cent. of the
children showed this defect. Most of these cases were
associated with discharge or abscess of the middle ear, which
subject is dealt with in the section of Ear Diseases.