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25
MEDICAL INSPECTION.
All departments of every school are visited by the
School Medical Officer each term for the purpose of carrying
out:—
1. Routine inspections of—
(a) Entrants, as soon as possible after entry.
(b) Intermediates, age 8.
(c) Leavers, age 12 and over.
2. Re-inspections of those children referred for defects
at previous routine inspections.
3. Examination of special cases brought forward by
the teachers.
The procedure of the above examinations set out in
detail in the Annual Report, 1920, has been continued, and
the Board of Education schedule followed.
Early ascertainment of crippling defects is secured by
urging the teachers to bring children so affected forward as
special cases at these inspections, and they are also seen at
the Clinic when sent by the Education secretary, teachers,
and attendance officers.
It is found that by visiting the schools each term instead
of annually for routine inspections, the disturbance of school
arrangements is reduced to a minimum, and a closer touch
is kept with the teachers in respect of special cases, and
fewer children are missed as absentees.
In the more modern schools a quiet room is always provided
for the School Medical Officer, but in the older schools
the inspections have to be carried out in a class-room, and
it is more convenient and creates less disturbance to empty
this for two or three days each term rather than for six to
nine successive days each year, and the former system is
much preferred by the teachers.
UNCLEANLINESS.
At Routine Medical Inspections, 252 children were found
with unclean heads and 181 with unclean bodies, which compares
favourably with 370 and 300 respectively during the
year 1920. It is also very evident that the degree of uncleanliness
has markedly improved, and the number of
children exhibiting flea bites has greatly diminished. The
use of "Derbac" soap has been tried, and where the directions
have been carried out by the parents the result appears
very satisfactory.