London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Willesden 1913
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Willesden]
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137
Nutrition.—Note has been made as to this condition
in the case of each child medically inspected during 1913.
Nutrition is judged not merely by the height and weight of
a child but also by its general appearance, complexion,
expression and response. The following Table, No. 94,
shows the results recorded:—
TABLE NO. 94.
| Boys. | Girls. | |
|---|---|---|
| No. of observations | 4826 | 4517 |
| No. with nutrition good | 2146 or 44.5 per cent | 2095 or 46.4 per cent |
| Do. normal | 2231 or 46.2 ,, | 2058 or 45.5 „ |
| Do. below normal | 431 or 8.9 „ | 338 or 7.5 „ |
| Do. bad | 18 or 0.4 „ | 26 or 0.6 „ |
This table is important, and especially so with regard
to the provision of school meals, as it shows that 8.7 per
cent. of the children inspected were not up to the normal
state of nutrition. In some cases this may have been the
direct result of disease, but in many the cause has to be
considered in reference to feeding and home circumstances.
Some of these children were actually underfed, some
improperly fed, some perhaps were overworked out of
school and were in want of sleep, while others again were
living under insanitary and unwholesome conditions. All
these causes contributed to the making up of the 8.7 per
cent. of children noted above as suffering from malnutrition
in greater or less degree.
K