CHAPTER IV 

 PHYSICAL EXAMINATIONS 



THE theory on which physical examinations are based rests 

 on a different foundation from that underlying medical 

 inspection for the detection of contagious diseases. The 

 latter is primarily a protective measure and looks mainly to the 

 immediate safeguarding of the health of the community. The 

 former aims at securing physical soundness and vitality and looks 

 far into the future. 



Physical examinations have come into existence because of 

 the mass of evidence showing conclusively that a large percentage 

 of school children probably from one-tenth to one-fourth suffer 

 from defective vision to the extent of requiring an oculist's care if 

 they are to do their work properly, and if permanent injury to their 

 eyes is to be avoided. 



These conclusions are based on examinations of hundreds of 

 thousands of children in all parts of the world. There is little 

 doubt as to the substantial accuracy of the results. More than 

 this, a considerable percentage of school children are so seriously 

 defective in hearing that their school work suffers severely. 

 Most important of all, only a small minority of these defects of sight 

 and hearing are discovered by teachers or known to them, to the parents, 

 or to the children themselves. When children attempt to do their 

 school work while suffering from these defects, among the results 

 may be counted permanent injury to the eyes, severe injury to the 

 nervous system due to eye strain, and depression and discourage- 

 ment, owing to inability to hear and see clearly. 



Moreover, there are other defects, in particular those of nose, 

 throat, and teeth, which are common among children and which 

 have an important bearing upon their present health and future 

 development. The importance of these defects is emphasized by 

 the fact that, if discovered early enough, they may easily be 



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