View report page

77
In the first column, the length of time the child has attended
* Centre is given, in the 2nd column the number of pounds gained
in that time, and in the 3rd column js shown the number of pounds
bywhich the child falls short of the average weight for its height.
In some cases the gain in weight is considerable although
in man) cases the 3rd column shows that the child still has far
to go in order to reach a normal average.
We expected to find some loss of weight in children during
the Summer holidays. Actually, one child lost 11 lbs., two remained
stationary and all the rest gained to some extent.
In view of the fact that many of our children on commencing
meals show signs of gross malnourishment, it is surprising how little
absence there is once the feeding has commenced.
This may be explained by the fact that parents are anxious
not to keep the child away if possible when a free dinner can be
obtained, but this is not the whole story. It is striking how little
infectious disease there has been among the children although we
have weathered an epidemic of measles and a fairly severe epidemic
of scarlet fever. It certainly appears as though this mid-morning
milk and mid-day meal, given at the time when the child is among
liis school fellows and therefore more likely to be exposed to infection,
has something to do with the low incidence of illness.