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101
of cod liver oil (Ministry of Health Circular on Nutrition, No. 1290) to
those in financial difficulty was, unfortunately, not agreed to by the
Council (Minutes, 1932-3, page 102).
It may be noted that the restriction upon the free issue of milk to
toddlers from the ages of three to five years imposed by circular 185
dated 31st March, 1921, of the Ministry of Health, is still in force. In
view of the recent advance in knowledge of the greater importance
played by nutrition in the general standard of health, the attention of
the Minister might well be directed to the advisability of rescinding that
restriction.
The Council will perceive that their maternity and child welfare scheme
has a wide scope, and yet, unfortunately, the parents of toddlers do
not take advantage of the facilities offered to anything like the extent
necessary for the maintenance of a reasonable standard of health. The
following table indicates how far the present standard of nutrition of
Lambeth children entering the County Council schools falls short of what
might be reasonably expected:—
1932—3,606 children
1933—3,409 children
Good
Average
Below
normal
Good
Average
Below
normal
Children 867 2,528 210 733 2,431 244
Lambeth 24% 70.2% 5.8% 21.5% 71.3% 7.2%
London 22% 73.5% 4.5% 20.5% 75.4% 4.1%
1934—3,210 children
1935—3,388 children
Good
Average
Below
normal
Good
Average
Below
normal
Children 622 2,363 225 587 2,430 362
Lambeth 19.4% 73.6% 7.0% 17.3% 71.7% 11.0%
London 20% 75.9% 4.1% 16.4% 77.9% 5.7%
The following appear to be the main objectives to which it is desirable
that the Council's attention should be directed:—
(i) Toddlers clinics.
(ii) Treatment of minor ailments, etc.
(iii) Day nurseries.
(iv) Increase of facilities for dental treatment.
(v) Provision for convalescent home treatment.
(vi) Supply of cod liver oil, free in necessitous cases.
(vii) Removal of restriction on free supply of milk to toddlers aged
3-5 years. In connexion with the free milk supply generally it
would be a boon to all concerned if it were obtainable cheaply,
as in the elementary schools through the Milk Marketing Board.