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110
on chin ; one child was in bed for 3 days and was operated on for appendix abscess
after returning home.
"The average gain in weight was 2.2 kgs., the highest gain being 6 kgs. One
child lost a few ounces."
Barham
House.
The head mistress of Barham House has paid great attention to the improving
of the physique of the children. In 1924 the weight increase was an average of 1 lb.
10 ozs. a month, in 1926 it was 2 lbs. 5 ozs.; but between October, 1926, and
November, 1927, the average was 4 lbs. 3 ozs. The great improvement in this
respect dates from the moment when cod liver oil was administered as a routine
measure to all the children, the dietary and regime in these respects having remained
unaltered. Many delightful letters are received from the parents and the children
after their return to London.
Dr. F. C. Lewis reports on this institution as follows: "During the year, 511
children (all girls with the exception of one batch of 64 boys from Hamond-square
in June) were sent to the school. These children, with the exception of four batches
of 32 from schools in other divisions, came from the Shoreditch schools and stayed
for four weeks at Barham House. Even during the winter months, when the facilities
of the camp school for out-door work and play are very limited, the children came
back noticeably improved in colour, energy, and general health. In most instances,
too, there was a gain in weight.
"After a good deal of controversy, permission was obtained for the girls to have
'sun-bathing' in a specially designed costume whilst at St. Leonards, and whilst the
weather was such that very little opportunity offered, in August and September
the girls were taken out into the garden and given 20 minutes in the full sun.
(Parental consent was first obtained, but this was only withheld in 3 cases and in
each of these cases the children were very sorry it had been.) The girls from St.
John's-road—who were the first to be allowed 'sun-baths' at Barham House—put
on an average of 2½ lbs in the month, exceeding the average of all previous batches.
It is hoped to extend this experiment in 1928 for the provision of an open-air class
room should render possible a more extended period of sun-bathing.
"No ill effects were experienced, but the local medical officer was exceedingly
cautious over the experiment, keeping the children moving during the exposure. To
get the full effect of sun exposure, I think it essential for the patient to be stationary.
It is hoped this year to get a more complete set of observations made, with a colour
test on selected cases."
Fairfield
House,
Broadstairs.