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and their fathers are no longer
necessary at such an inspection.
Constantly I am saying
that such medical inspections
are a general review of the
child as a whole. At these
examinations we have a doctor
present; we have a Health
Visitor who very possibly has
known the child from infancy,
and whenever it is at all possible
either the Head Teacher or the
class teacher is present, and
it is this joint conference, as it
were, which is of the highest
importance. What is more, it
saves such a lot of time.
There may be something—
I will not say wrong but I will say "not quite so good as it ought to
be "—and it is at these conferences that thus can be mentioned and we
can talk it over and find out jointly what is the best way of dealing with it.
Question:—What factors are taken into account when
assessing a child's nutritional standard ?
Answer:—This is the most difficult question I have been called upon
to answer.
I can only say in a forthright way that it depends entirely upon
the personal opinion of the examining medical officer.
It has been said we are a mongrel nation and although we do not
like the word used in such a statement, we are bound to admit that
the statement is true; it is just so difficult to say what should be the
normal height and weight of an Englishman as it is to say what is the
normal height and weight of a dog; both dogs and men have a mixed
ancestry.
I would, however, make it quite clear that height and weight are
by no means the only factors and, indeed, are not the chief factors;

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