296 REPORTS ON THE STATE OF SCIENCE.—1912. 
A circular letter was sent to the Education Authority of each 
county and county borough stating the objects of the Committee, and 
asking for information on the following points :— 
(1) Whether the eyesight of the children in the schools of the 
Authority is tested at regular intervals ; 
(2) Whether advice on the care of the children’s eyesight is given 
to school teachers; 
(3) Whether the teachers instruct the children in the general care 
of eyesight; 
(4) What regulations (if any) have been adopted for the selection 
of school-books and atlases (including limits of price, size of 
type, character of illustrations, weight, &c.), wall-maps, charts, 
and diagrams ; 
(5) Whether any definite principles or rules have been laid down 
by or for those who select school-books for the Authority. 
Replies were received from sixty Authorities, to whom and their 
officers the Committee is much indebted for the information supplied. 
Under the system of medical inspection now general in public 
elementary schools, in accordance with the day-school code, the eye- 
sight of children of school age is tested at least twice during their 
school life, the test being made, with few exceptions, by means of the 
well-known test-cards. A few Authorities in both counties and 
county boroughs go further, and employ a competent oculist, either 
part or full time, his duty being to examine special cases and pre- 
scribe spectacles or recommend that medical or operative treatment be 
obtained. Some Authorities have arrangements under which spec- 
tacles according fo the prescription of their oculist are supplied to the 
children at cost price, which is comparatively low by reason of special 
contracts. Arrangements are also made for free provision of spectacles 
in case of need, frequently with the aid of voluntary associations. 
The school medical officers and ophthalmic surgeons on the occasion 
of their visits give advice to the teachers concerning the treatment of 
children with defective sight. With one or two important exceptions, 
however, it would seem that instruction concerning proper and im- 
proper use of the eyes in school-work has not been given to teachers. 
The Committee is pleased to report that, under the new regulations for 
the training of teachers, hygiene, including testing of eyesight, is now a 
compulsory subject for the Board of Education examination of training- 
college students. 
We learn that it is not customary for teachers to give the children 
special instruction concerning the care of their eyes. It is stated in 
several instances that teaching of this kind is given incidentally in the 
course of the lessons on hygiene which form part of the school cur- 
riculum; but nothing more is done, and what is done amounts to 
very little. 
Speaking generally, no definite principles or rules as to printing 
and other conditions of legibility have been adopted in the selection 
of school-books, atlases, diagrams, &c. Two or three Authorities, 
when drawing up their book-lists, have given considerable attention 
