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7. The expenditure of a few shillings a year on this
matter often saves as many pounds afterwards, as well as much
pain and perhaps illness.
8. Finally, it is important to remember that serious and
fatal diseases may arise from neglect of the teeth—indigestion,
diseases of the stomach and lungs, and many kinds of sore
throat may be caused by germs which in the first place find a
lodgment in a decayed and hollow tooth.
(vi.) Fifty days were devoted to the medical inspection
of the children, the time varying from 1 to 4 hours at each visit.
From 8 to 10 scholars per hour were examined, and the
duties of making arrangements for the inspections, filling up
the forms, etc. occupied about the same period per scholar, i.e.
the examinations, making arrangements, filling the forms, etc.,
2 hours in all for from 8 to 10 scholars.
In addition to inspecting those who enter in 1909, and
those who leave school during that year, an inspection will have
to be made of all those who are from 7 to 8 years of age, the
majority of whom will have been drafted from the infants' to the
upper departments. The inspection of these scholars will occupy
more time than is necessary with those who have just entered
school, as particular attention will have to be given to testing
the sight and ascertaining the mental capacity (which are
omitted in examining children under 6 years of age). This
period of the inspection is probably the most important one of
the whole of school life.
Amelioration of the Conditions Revealed by Medical Inspection.
In the Memorandum issued by the Board of Education
(Circular 576) page 10. will be found the following:—
"The aim of the Act is practical, and it is important that
Local Education Authorities should keep in view the desirability
of ultimately formulating and submitting to the Board,
for their approval under Section 13 (i) (b) of the Act, schemes
for the amelioration of the evils revealed by medical
inspection."