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60
ditions present more difficulties of ascertainment, than nutrition,
and the results are dependent upon the presonal views of the inspector.
It will probably afford more light upon the physical condition
of the children, if the heights and weights of the children
in the different schools are given. In accordance with our usual
practice, we have again inserted these Tables this year. It must
be remembered though, that height and weight are not always a
true index of nutrition. We usually assess nutrition at routine
inspection under the headings A.B. and C. B is supposed to be
normal, A supernormal and C subnormal. To anyone who is
used to medical inspection the difficulty of assessing and standardizing
nutrition is obvious. Unconsciously we are inclined to
vary the standard according to the class of school which is being
inspected, and to adopt a higher standard for normal nutrition
in a school where all, or most, of the children are well clothed and well
fed, than we do in a school in a poorer neighbourhood.
It may seem surprising that the figures for nutrition appear
so good, for it is well known that, the district in common with all
industrial areas has suffered from unemployment. We were fortunate
in the fact that we did not feel the stress of unemployment
as early as some other areas, and the unemployment had not been
so wide spread and severe as in some industrial areas in the north,
but the unemployment figures here for 1931 were higher than those
of 1930. So far though the increase of unemployment has not been
reflected in the nutritional state of the children. It is admitted that
malnutrition and a subnormal state of health are the resultant of
many factors, and that only one of these is underfeeding, but it is
doubtful if there are many cases of underfeeding among the school
children.
An enquiry was made this year, into the condition of some
children who had been referred by the Head Teacher of the school.
Of these selected children, few could be said to suffer from malnutrition.
There were some who appeared to be neglected, but it
was significant that the two worst cases were those whose fathers
were in constant employment, and earning comparatively good
wages. It is probable that the improvement observed in spite
of industrial distress is due to a better appreciation of food values,
and the milk schemes in the schools undoubtedly make for better
nutritional state in the children.
Ringworm.
In last year's report I called attention to the slight increase
in the number of cases of Ringworm of the scalp. There is again
an increase to be noted this year. 12 cases were treated by the
Education Authority and 2 privately, compared with a total of