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One hardly expects to be free of this complaint as the condition is not
recognised in the early stages: the spores produced are very numerous and are
easily disseminated.
Scabies or itch, a disease very prevalent during the early years of the war
have decreased from 165 cases in 1920 to 11 in 1923.
External Eye Conditions.—The most common of these is inflammation
of the lids, frequently associated with uncleanliness. These conditions
are twice as numerous as in 1920.
Defects of Vision and Squint remain much the same as in previous
years.
Otitis Media.—There has been an increase in the number of cases this
year which, compared with the number in 1920, forms a marked increase.
This is a disquieting feature, as so many of these cases become chronic and the
condition may cause serious deafness or endanger life. This increase is not
due to scarlet fever, but it does depend on infective conditions in the nasopharynx
perhaps due to a faulty environment, but certainly due to a faulty
hygiene of the nasal passages, due to the neglect of the pocket handkerchief and
the still prevalent use of the dumb teat.
Tonsils and Adenoids are slightly in excess this year; this affection
and the previous go hand in hand. One advantage of a routine inspection at an
earlier age would be that these defects might be remedied at an earlier age; the
same remark is equally applicable to
Dental Disease.—Of the 344 children referred at routine inspection for
dental treatment, 42 per cent. were infants, although they only formed 28 per
cent. of the total inspections.
This in spite of the fact that the Dentist carries out his primary
inspection amongst the infants only; the older children mentioned in Table IV.,
Group IV. are re-inspections of children previously treated.
Heart and Lung Disease.—The findings this year are very similar
to those of the previous three years.
Nervous System.—Defects of this system have shewn a marked
decline; this is the reverse of what one would have expected; many teachers
have referred to the alteration in the temperament and the nervous stability of
the present day school child. Want of attention and difficulty in self-control
have been noted, and the teachers in infants' departments say it is much
more difficult to teach the present day child.