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117
" Aspen House School has now completed its fourth year.
The average Aspen House.
(Dr. Jessie
Duncan
attendance for the vear was 8-41 per cent, of the roll.
Ihe weather during the summer months was ideal for open-air treatment and
rest took place out of doors on 110 occasions. I am still of opinion that some form
of protection is desirable in wet and foggy weather. As pointed out in the report
of last year, it would be of the greatest possible benefit if windows could be
provided for the large dining shed, and on very bad days all the children
could be accommodated there. Glass windows would undoubtedly be the most
effective.
" The average gain in weight for the whole school was 3-9 kilograms (as compared
with 3-89 kilograms for last year). Loss of weight is always noticed after the
holidays. Medical inspections are held every two weeks, each child being examined
once a term. For various reasons many of the children are examined much more
frequently. It has been noticed that children who have been in attendance for a
year without making noticeable progress suddenly begin to improve rapidly. It
therefore seems desirable not to make the stay in the open-air school of too short
duration.
" Of the 149 children at present attending the school, 93 suffered from anaemia
and debility ; 82 of these were much improved and the other 21 children improved
to a less degree. The term ' debility' covers a large group of children who though
not suffering from any definite disease are nevertheless out of health. They
show the following symptoms :—headache, constipation, recurrent diarrhoea,
listlessness, anaemia, failure to put on weight, loss of appetite, growing pains,
pyrexia, nervousness, night terrors, nocturnal enuresis. This group of symptoms
occurs almost exclusively in highly strung nervous children. They are suffering
from relative or absolute insufficiency of sugar and therefore cannot digest fats
easily.
" The dietary was adequate and of good quality. Children who on admission
have poor appetites soon begin to enjoy their food. In some cases, diarrhoea after
food is noticed at first but this soon disappears. A great many children also suffer
from constipation on admission but with suitable dietary and training in regular
habits this soon improves. The children themselves often complain of constipation
at week-ends and during the holidays. It is also frequently noticed that the children
have ' sick headaches ' on Monday. Undoubtedly, regular and suitable food is
one of the chief reasons for the children's improvement in health.
"As an experiment some of the more delicate and nervous children who were Special sugar
not making much progress were tried on a special ' sugar diet.' The following is
the amount of sugar given :— 2 level teaspoonfuls of sugar in weak tea at breakfast
and tea. Lemonade sweetened with glucose between meals. Sandwiches of bread
and butter and demerara sugar at each meal. A little milk in tea and in
milk puddings but not given as a beverage, although it may be given if it is
skimmed. The child is encouraged to eat boiled sweets. This apparently does
not take away the appetite for meals. Unfortunately, some of the selected
children left during the experiment so that it is not possible, at present, to
give definite figures. It was noticed, however, that some of the children did
remarkably well.
" A.B., a very highly nervous boy suffered from night terrors and was markedly
anaemic. After admission to the school, although he was put on extra milk, he
gained weight very slowly and there was no improvement in his nervous condition.
He was tried on sugar diet, and in 6 months he had gained 3 kilograms.
" D.C., suffered from enlarged glands, was always tired and slept badly. He
gained very little until he was put on sugar diet. In 6 months he had gained 2-6
kilograms