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There is thus no significant change in the assessment of the nutritional state
of the children during the past year. The very slight increase in the total percentage
in column 3 is largely accounted for by an alteration in the relative proportions of
the age groups examined. The 7-year-old children examined formed a larger
proportion of the total than in 1935, and this age is a particularly critical age. Each
year the nutritional assessment of this group, particularly the boys, shows a greater
proportion of nutritional failure than in.any other group.
The percentage of 7-year-old girls assessed as subnormal was 7-1, and that
of the boys no less than 9-0. Amongst the entrant infants, 6-7 per cent, of the boys
and 5-8 per cent, of the girls were subnormal; and in the 11-year-old group, 6-7
per cent, of the boys and 5 • 9 per cent, of the girls were subnormal.
It is satisfactory to note that the leaver children are found to be in a very
satisfactory condition, as amongst these only 4.1 per cent, of the boys and 3.4 per
cent, of the girls are assessed as subnormal, whereas the corresponding figures for
1935 were 4-4 per cent, and 3-8 per cent.
The number of children found to be suffering from pathological malnutrition
was only 122 (-07 per cent.), compared with 152 (-08 per cent.) in 1935.
A very important factor influencing the nutritional classification of the children
during the past two years has been the scheme of the Milk Marketing Board, as only
those children who are adjudged to be physically subnormal by the school doctor
can obtain the milk free of cost.
In all cases of doubt the child is naturally given the benefit and is placed in
class 3 rather than in class 2.
a Personal hygiene is the second of three great indices—nutrition, cleanliness,
clothing—by which social conditions and their improvement can be assessed.
In 1936 the percentage of children in the three prescribed age groups found free
from traces of nits or pediculi in the hair was 97 • 4 compared with 97 • 0 in the previous
year, and 96-5 in 1934. This is the best result ever obtained. For some years past
the condition of the hair of the 12-year-old girls has been taken as the criterion of
cleanliness, and it has been pointed out that there has been a gradual improvement
from 67-2 per cent, free from all traces of vermin in 1913 to 75 per cent, in 1923,
91-9 per cent, in 1930, and 93-5 per cent, in 1931. This figure was still further
improved in 1932, when the high level of 95-8 per cent, was obtained.
In the year 1934 the percentage of 11-year-old girls (who now take the place of
the 12-year-old group) entirely free from vermin was 94-8. This percentage was
raised to 95-1 in 1935, and 95-7 in 1936.
It must be remembered that the parents are warned of the medical inspections
upon which these figures are based, and the children appear spick and span for the
occasion. The figures given in these results are therefore better than would be the
case at surprise inspections, such as those carried out by the nurses in their rota visits
to the schools. It is, however, impossible for the parents to eradicate at short notice