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which proposes to deal, as a start, with children of6 and 7 years of age, including a few older children.It is hoped, however, that all children will eventuallybe passed under review each year. During the yearit was found that only 31-8 per cent. of the childrenhad sound teeth, as against 32-4 per cent. last year ;amongst " leavers " the rate was only slightly higher,34-3 per cent., as against 35-8 the previous year.Under the new scheme this percentage should beconsiderably raised in a few years’ time. Normalvision was found among 77-4, and normal hearing in99-8 per cent. Operative treatment was received by41 per cent. of the nose and throat cases, and Dr.Charles E. Paget urges regular breathing exercises asa routine part of physical education in the schools.There were 13 definite cases of pulmonary tuberculosisin the county. Physical deformities were detectedin 1 per cent. of the children examined, and inaddition 1-6 per cent. were found to be suffering fromheart disease. There was a marked diminution in theamount of anaemia amongst leavers, 0-67 per cent.,as against 2-6 per cent. the previous year. Duringthe year 59 schools were closed for measles-in thiscounty the old order evidently still prevails in the caseof infectious disease.

INDUSTRY AND PREVENTIVEMEDICINE:

CONFERENCE AT OXFORD.

A CONFERENCE organised by the Industrial WelfareSociety was held at Balliol College, Oxford, fromSept. 15th to 20th. Here, sent by their firms, therewere gathered for a few days in college life representa-tives of great industrial concerns, including engineeringworks, textile mills, railways, coal mines, shipbuildingyards, chemical works, and food factories. The

programme included lectures by distinguished experts,but much solid work was done at informal meetingsof groups held in rooms or in the quadrangle whichwere always taking place from morn to midnight ;indeed a far more businesslike atmosphere was presentthan is usually found at scientific conferences.The proceedings were opened by Lord GORELL, who

announced that acceptance of office in the Air Ministryhad necessitated his retirement, in favour of LordChelmsford, late Viceroy of India, from the Chairman-ship of the Miners’ Welfare Committee establishedunder the Mining Industry Act, 1920. He dwelt uponthe epoch-marking provision of this Act which makesa levy on the industry to be devoted to bettermentpurposes, and sets up a committee to allocate the fund.The scope of the work is to include education, healthand safety, recreation, and research, so covering thewhole field of human life.

Industrial Welfare as a Science.The correctness of this view of welfare was shown

by the subjects dealt with by other speakers ; thusDr. C. W. ElMMiNS (London County Council) dealtwith the educational aspect and pointed to the mag-nificent opportunity opening up before welfaresupervisors as juvenile education under the 1918 Actcomes to be carried on part-time with occupationallife, and to the scope so afforded for vocationalguidance. The theme so opened was developed onthe industrial side by Mr. Epic FARMER, who claimedthat industrial psychology could be considered as acontinuation of education, that it should be concernedwith the human element and not be tied down by theneeds of efficiency or production. Efficiency andproduction will certainly benefit, but this benefitshould not be the only aim of industrial psychologistsand physiologists ; their aim should be to improveindustrial activity and discover the boundary whereactivity becomes overstrained, the parent of irritabilityand discontent.The principles of physiology underlying health were

laid down by Prof. E. L. COLLIR (Cardiff), who pointedout the part the public can play if only these simple

principles are grasped. He claimed that industrialwelfare was a science, although yet a young one ; hepointed out that no science could exist without meansof measurement. The means in this case were labourturnover and lost time. He urged welfare super-visors to use these means and become masters of them ;through them research could be carried out, withoutwhich the welfare movement could not progress. Heuttered a warning that a science which was not

progressing must become retrograde.The subject of recreation was taken up by 3[1’.

R. S. WOOD (Secretary of the Juvenile OrgallisationsCommittee), who dealt with camping-the rightfulheritage of every boy. He placed before the conferencemuch useful and practical information on the economicrunning of camps, and advocated that two or threesmaller camps were more advantageous than one largeone. Another aspect of recreation was delightfullydemonstrated by Mr. G. J. SHARP, a well-knownauthority on folk dances and folk music. Only the bestof these dances and songs have come down to us.

Their value becomes apparent from the way in whichthey are quickly adopted and practised when oncethey are introduced. Play is as necessary to life aswork. especially in a country long known in Europeas Merry England. Folk dances and songs whichhave stood the test of centuries should not be dis-regarded in favour of modern and less tried forms ofrecreation.

The Practice of JVelfare.The strength of the industrial movement was,

however, made more obvious when it was spoken ofe by employers such as Sir ANDREW DUNCAN (Ship- building Employers’ Federation), and representatives>

of labour, Mr. F. BRANLEY (Trade Union Congress)J

and Mr. F. S. BUTTON. In each case the speakers- presented their point of view with what they thought some temerity. Each welcomed the welfare movement, but saw the necessity for limitation of its activities. The surprising matter was that when the two positions

’ were thus stated no conflict whatever was found, nor

3 did either position conflict with the work which

welfare supervisors are undertaking. Both Sir Andrew’ Duncan and Mr. Branley considered that welfare work)

should concentrate upon juveniles, and only seek topermeate industry as these juveniles grow up to adult

life and carry with them the spirit which welfare hasimplanted. Sir Andrew Duncan particularly pointedout that the outward form of welfare work was of

,

minor importance compared with the spirit, and withrecognition that there is an obligation and burdenL upon an industry with regard to the welfare of thoseengaged in it which it must itself discharge. Mr.Branley’s point of view was that organised labourwould give its unqualified support, without reserve,to genuine schemes of factory and workshop welfare.He looked upon the welfare movement as the ally oforganised labour, working in a field particularly itsown. There could be no doubt that an employerwho became an enthusiast for welfare could not atthe same time advocate low wages or unreasonablylong hours.

Aspects of the subject put forward by differentspeakers were all submitted to keen discussion. Theduty lay with Mr. R. R. HYDE (Director of theIndustrial Welfare Society) to report present progress.He was able to state that the movement, which saw itsbirth in the stress of war-time and grew during the tradeboom that followed, had held its own in a wonderfulway during the unprecedented slump from which weare only just beginning to emerge. Now he couldstate that firms who have once adopted welfare werecontinuing it whatever the conditions of trade. Apartaltogether from its high aims and aspirations as abranch of social service, welfare had value in providingcommon ground upon which employers and employedcould meet in amity.Those who attended this Conference could not help

being struck bv the earnestness and enthusiasm whichinspired it. All present were bent upon ensuring thesuccess of what promises to be the foundation of a new

spirit of health and contentment in the industrial world.