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119
MALNUTRITION.
137 children, viz., 79 girls and 58 boys = 2.3% were found to be
poorly nourished. This is an improvement on last year's results,
which is probably due to the increase of rations. Nevertheless, the
nutrition of the children is far from satisfactory. There seems to be a
larger proportion of children with "fair" nutrition and a correspondingly
less number of children having "excellent" nutrition. This is very
noticeable in some schools where few of the young children—those
from 5—8 years old—have a really healthy appearance. Several of the
teachers say that they notice a lack of brightness and energy in the
children, which they associate with insufficiency of certain articles of
diet such as milk, butter and eggs.
Apart from the question of food there are other causes of
malnutrition. Children with enlarged tonsils and adenoids frequently
have a poor physique and are included among the poorly nourished.
In a few cases tuberculosis accounts for the poor nutrition. Much
may be done for such children as these by early and adequate medical
and other treatment, thus :—
(а) Any obvious defect such as enlarged tonsils or adenoids
should be attended to. The establishment of the Throat Clinic has
facilitated this.
(b) The diet may be increased. In suitable cases, milk is supplied
to be consumed in school for a period of not less than three months.
An increase in weight at the end of this period has frequently indicated
that the child has made progress. In other cases cod liver oil and
malt is provided at the Treatment Centre at cost price.
(c) Open air living conditions may be provided. In a few cases
the child' is excluded from school. Equally good results or better are
obtained in open-air classes. In these classes a child does its lessons
out of doors and is encouraged to rest or exercise itself as the occasion
demands. Such a class exists at Woodside School, where encouraging
results have been obtained. The class is not necessarily restricted to
the poorly nourished ; children with bronchitis, asthma, heart disease,
and other complaints often improve under these conditions.
EYE DISEASES.
66 children were found suffering from external diseases of the eye,
uhich include such conditions as squint, inflamed eyelids, and ulcers.
774 children = 13.3% had sub-normal vision. When considered
necessary these children are referred to the ophthalmic surgeon for
special examination and subsequent treatment if needed.
TONSILS AND ADENOIDS.
In 389 children the tonsils were slightly enlarged.
,,271 „ „ „ „ markedly „
,, 234 „ adenoids were present.
That is 894 children or 15.4% had unhealthy conditions of the
throat and nasopharynx.