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The percentage of children examined who were assessed as below normal in
nutrition was, therefore, 6.10 in 1937, and 5.99 in 1936, a quite remarkably close
result in the two years. The number of children who were found to be seriously ill.
nourished was 107 in 1937, or 5.9 per ten thousand, while in 1936 it was 122, or 6.6
per ten thousand.
It is not astonishing that the number of children found to be seriously ill.
nourished at routine inspections is so small and diminishing each year, for, with the
general condition of the children so good, it is most unlikely that such a child should
remain in school for any length of time unnoticed; and, if noticed, it is almost
unthinkable that, with the present opportunities for medical examination and
amelioration, he should remain unrelieved. It should be noted that, while in the
routine age groups in 1937, only 107 seriously ill.nourished children were found, yet
at special inspections there were 406.
The following are the measures by which it is sought in London to observe and
control the nutritional state of the children:—
(1) The general continuous oversight of the children in school by teachers, school doctors,
school nurses, and care committee workers.
(2) The weighing and measuring of all children at six.monthly intervals. This is carried
out by the school nurses, who bring before the school doctor all children who do not progress
normally.
(3) The feeding of necessitous children; including the giving of milk twice a day, or cod.
liver oil on the advice of the school doctors.
(4) The carrying out of special enquiries at certain schools.
(5) The reference for expert investigation at "nutrition centres" of every child whose condition
does not improve by ordinary school measures.
(6) The provision, for children who are under.nourished, of convalescence at country or
seaside open.air residential schools or convalescent homes.
(7) The investigation of home conditions by care committee workers, and their improvement
so far as possible by advice and help.
(8) The steady improvement of housing conditions intensively followed by the Council's
housing committee.
Nutrition
centres
The work of the five main and seven subsidiary nutrition centres has continued
throughout the year. Particulars of attendances at nutrition centres during 1937 are
shown below:—
Number of appointments made for new cases 725
Attendances: new cases 578
old cases 2,291
—— 2,869
Number discharged: no longer needing supervision 127
leaving school 85
— 212
Number of sessions 379
These centres, which were first established in May, 1935, have continued to
perform an important function. They are essentially "further inspection" centres,
conducted by experienced physicians, to which school doctors refer children for
more detailed investigation than is possible at the routine inspections in the schools.