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(1) There was a general extension throughout the schools of
the scheme of the National Milk Publicity Council for the supply
of 1/3 of a pint of milk daily in a sealed bottle with a straw. Towards
the end of the year upwards of 2,600 school children were partaking
of this milk daily at 10.30 a.m.—a most valuable practical lesson
in the hygiene of food.
(2) A system of monthly charting of weights and heights of
all the children attending Coldfall School has been in operation
since March, 1930.
(3) A copy of Dr. R. W. P. Emerson's book "The Diagnosis
of Health" (Constable, 1930, 10s. 6d.) has been supplied by the
Education Authority to all Elementary Schools in the Borough
for the use of the teaching staffs.
This book is the best practical guide I know in the application
of modern physiology to the solution of the problem of malnutrition
and other unsatisfactory states of health. Preventive medicine in
this country has too long concerned itself with the diagnosis of "the
beginnings of disease." We have failed to grasp the simple truth
that disease which has begun has not been prevented. Every
success achieved in diagnosing "the beginnings of disease" should
be recorded as a failure in prevention. We must regard the
problem more from the point of view of positive health and less
from the standpoint of disease. To all who are genuinely
interested in this aspect of the maintenance of health I most
heartily recommend Emerson's little book.
I wish to express my appreciation of the helpful co-operation
of all those concerned in promoting the health and physical wellbeing
of the school children—the members of the Education
Committee, staff of the Education Office, the Medical Profession,
staff of the School Medical Service, the Head Teachers and their
staffs, School Attendance Officers, Care Committees and parents.
I am,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your obedient servant,
R. P. GARROW.