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106
Clothing.
After carrying on the work of school inspection for four years
and medically examining some thousands of children—an examination
often hampered by difficulties in clothing—it seems fitting to
draw attention to some of the defects found where faulty clothing
is a prominent factor in poor physical development, and even
minor deformities.
Insufficient Clothing.
Some children are found with insufficient clothing, but in
justice to the teachers it may be remarked that most of these
cases are already known to them, and that unsuitable home
surroundings or thriftlessness seem the primary cause of this
condition. On many occasions we have been impressed with the
kindness of the teachers in providing or begging clothes from
friends for the most neglected of their scholars.
It is often noticed thst the physical development of these
children is remarkably good; this is partly due to the fact that
their insufficient clothing leaves the lungs and chest free to expand
and entails an increased amount of bodily exercise to keep warm.
Also the doctrine of " survival of the fittest'' plays some part, as
the more delicate children probably succumb before reaching
school age.
Overclothing.
It is far more common to find children burdened with an
excess of clothing. Children who appear robust on entering the
room are revealed as puny little objects when the many layers
of clothing over their chests have been removed. It is not
uncommon to find seven thick layers of clothing, three or four
of them consisting of heavy cloth or flannel, tightly wrapped
over the child's chest, while the innermost layer is of brown paper
soaked in goose-grease, carbolic oil or some pungent ointment.
We are told these children do not like play, and easily catch cold,
to avoid which the anxious parent adds yet another layer.