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Dr. Florence Louis reports as follows on the Forster sub.centre:—
Fifty.three children attended during 1937. They may be classified in three groups.
Group I, consisting of 24 children, contained those whose home diet was inadequate, being
without exception deficient in protein and fat and excessive in starch. Signs of old rickets were
present in eight, and anaemia (haemoglobin level below 80 per cent.) in six.
All the children in this group had been receiving daily two.thirds of a pint of milk in school,
and half of them were on malt and oil in school as well. When large doses of halibut.liver oil
were given, there was a consistent gain in weight and rise in haemoglobin. Disappointing results
were obtained by iron therapy, but it was doubtful whether the medicines were taken with
regularity. Periods of stay in a convalescent home resulted in a rapid gain in weight.
Group II included 10 children. In these there was no marked financial necessity at home,
but there were gross ignorance and mismanagement. Five out of 10 showed signs of old rickets.
Improvement was obtained by advice on diet, and the addition of vitamins A and D.
Group III contained 19 children. These children were well cared for and came from good
and prosperous homes. They suffered from psychological maladjustments, nervous vomiting
and indigestion, etc. Appropriate advice secured improvement in most cases.
In the south.eastern division, Dr. G. D. Morgan reports:—
During the year 75 children attended the Peckham centre, in 35 (46 per cent.) of whom
environmental conditions were considered the cause of failure in growth. These included:
poverty, 23; ill.adjusted diet, 2; housing and sleeping defect, 6; inadequate parental care, 4.
In 8 there was debility following acute illness or prolonged ill.health. In 25 the cause was physiological
or pyschological instability. Treatment is mainly through environmental modification,
although vitamin concentrates, glucose, calcium and iron are given in appropriate cases. The
children presenting the greatest problem are those whose parents are not co.operative. The most
successful means of treatment placed in order of potency have been found to be: (i) convalescence
in the country; (ii) residential open.air schools; (iii) day open.air school; (iv) school dinners;
(v) cod.liver oil and milk in school; (vi) modifications in home environment.
A tribute should be paid to the King's Canadian open.air school, a period of six weeks at
which has produced great improvement not only in physique and stamina, but also in mental
outlook.
Particulars follow of three special enquiries carried out during 1937.
Dr. G. D. Morgan made a special investigation into the nutritional standard
of ten.year.old children attending a neighbouring elementary school. In assessing
the condition of the children, physical measurements were undertaken, in addition
to careful clinical examination. The latter included assessment of the condition of
the skin and subcutaneous tissue, pallor and conjunctival appearance, body shape,
size of the abdomen, etc. At the same time records were taken of the size of the
family, health of family, and the health of the child under observation. Particular
note was also taken of the child's previous illnesses. Other children in the family
attending school were also examined. In all, 152 children were examined. The
nutritional assessment according to the Board of Education scale was:—
Grade of nutrition Number Percentage
1 25 16.5
2 108 71.0
3 & 4 19 12.5
The previous health of the children was expressed as the number of illnesses
of which a history was obtained, serious illnesses being separately entered. The
average number of illnesses recorded did not vary in the three groups, but serious
illnesses were much more frequently recorded in the subnormal group, the percentages
being: grade 1, 14.3; grade 2, 10.2; grades 3 and 4, 45.4. The hours of
sleep averaged 11.3 per night and did not vary in the three groups. Size of family
varied inversely with nutritional states, viz.: average number of children, grade 1,
2.8; grade 2, 3.2; grades 3 and 4, 5.8. The more seriously affected children were
referred to the nutrition centre for more detailed investigation.
Dr. Wilfrid Oakley, who is temporarily in charge of the Forster nutrition sub.
centre, investigated the home diets of 230 boys from a central school. Examination
of the diets showed, with regard to protective foods, 59.1 per cent. were satisfactory,
16.5 per cent. deficient in fresh fruit, 14.4 per cent. deficient in green vegetables, and
10 per cent. in both fruit and vegetables. Twelve of the 230 diets, or 5.2 per cent.,