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disposal, although a negative result in the way of stunting could be produced by
improper feeding, as is the case when children suffer from rickets. It now appears,
however, that by taking milk the child can add, if not a cubit, at any rate, some
inches to his stature. Whether this means that the forces of growth are stimulated
to increased activity for a time, but that growth will end at an earlier period, or
whether it means that the children will be really taller as adults is not known.
The stimulus to growth in height rather than to the production of fatness is
seen in records relating to Dr. Chaikin's debilitated girls mentioned above.
Dr. C. E. Thornton has made two sets of observations upon normal children
having milk in school, compared with controls not having milk. In the first series,
the children were all in the same school, the Oliver Goldsmith; the number of milk
cases was 53, and the number of controls of the same age was 91. The period under
observation was six months. The average gain in weight was—milk cases, .69 kilograms
; controls, .94 kilograms; the average gain in height was—milk cases, 2.26
centimetres; controls, 2.17 centimetres.
A second series was watched over 11 months in two schools, one Athelney-street
in which the milk cases were, and the other Elfrida-street, in which were the controls.
The schools were of similar character. The results were: average gain in weight—
93 milk cases, 2.64 kilograms; 90 controls, 2.91 kilograms; average gain in height—
milk cases, 6.9 centimetres; controls, 4.2 centimetres.
These results were all in relatively small groups; but, if they are proved to be
general, they should go far to remove the fears of the not inconsiderable number of
children, principally girls, who refuse milk, not because they really dislike it, but
through the abhorrence of the idea that thev may become fat.
Nutrition
centres.
The Committee of the Jewish Health Organisation established, towards the end
of the year a voluntary dietetic service at the East London child guidance clinic.
The part-time services of a qualified dietitian with hospital training and experience
in lecturing on the subject is utilised.
The work of the dietitian consists in explaining to the parent, on the basis of the
doctor's findings, where the child's food habits are wrong, in pointing out the importance
of different kinds of food and how they should be used to avoid errors of
diet, and in giving practical assistance in the construction or choice of dietaries.
In cases of malnutrition resulting from ignorance on the part of the parents or from the
economic condition of the family, the endeavour of the dietitian is to instruct the
parents as to which foods, within the means of the family, make a dietary best suited
to the growth and development of the child. It is hoped that it may also be possible
to give information and make suggestions in the course of these interviews as to food
values and methods of cookery which will be of practical use, not only in the feeding
of the child, but also to the dietary of the whole family.
It was anticipated that the dietitian would be able to handle a greater number
of cases than the East London clinic could supply, and the Jewish Health Organisation
was desirous that children in the Council's elementary schools should also be allowed to
attend the clinic for the dietitian's service only, and suggested that such children should
be referred to the clinic by the Council's school medical officer and school doctors.
During the initial period no charge is being made for the attendance of these
school children, but the number of such children is limited and determined from time
to time by experience as to the demand for and capacity of the service. It has been
considered advisable at first, so far as children sent direct by school doctors are
concerned, to limit the service to the north-eastern division and to extend the area
by degrees. For the time being, the dietitian's sessions are held after school hours.
The Education Committee considered that an experiment on the lines suggested
would be welcome, and arranged that parents of children in suitable instances should
be recommended to avail themselves of this service.
In the programme for the year 1935-36 the Council has determined to establish
five experimental nutrition centres, one in each division. These are to be worked in
conjunction with a scheme for the regular weighing and measuring of the children
in school twice a year by the school nurses. This is proposed in order that a watch
shall be kept upon the rate of growth of each individual child with a view to bringing