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103
Sometimes quite startling results are obtained by regular
supervision and treatment, one case where ear discharge had
been present for one year before attending school. After one months'
treatment at the Ear Clinic, the ear ceased to discharge and has not
recommenced, having been dry now for some months. Such results
are encouraging and stimulate us to continue the attention
and care which the Ear Clinic endeavours to supply.
PROVISION OF MEALS.
As formerh, meals continue to be granted to necessitous
school children who are suffering from the effects of malnutrition.
It not infrequently happens that children are sent along to be
examined with a view to recommendation for free meals, because
their fathers have fallen out of work. On examination these
children may be, and often are, found to be in good condition,
well up to the average in development, and in bodily and mental
vigour. It seems therefore sometimes that the careful and conscientious
parent is penalised at the expense of the careless and thriftless.
These children cannot medically be recommended for free
meals and milk, but they are kept under observation, and should the
new financial conditions in the home be leading to loss of weight,
pallor, listlessness or flabbiness, then a recommendation can be
made so that the former good condition can be regained or maintained.
Very rarely is it necessary to place these children on the
feeding list, as the careful mother seems to manage, even when the
father is out of work, to keep the children in good condition.
How far these conditions would obtain if unemployment
continued for more than a short period, is a debatable point;
experience in the distressed areas points to the inevitable conclusion,
that prolonged unemployment leads ultimately to deterioration
in the general condition of the children. While no
great expenditure is called upon in the way of clothes or boots or
medicines, &c., it is possible to imagine that a careful mother
would manage to maintain conditions in the home as formerly, but
any excess expenditure must mean shortage somewhere else, and it
is then that the strain would be felt.
One case can be instanced to show the good sometimes
done by free meals and milk. C.G. when first seen at 4½ years
was whitefaced, listless, flabby and underweight. Free meals
were recommended, and in three weeks she had put on nearly
3 pounds, was much brighter and was beginning to have some colour
in her face. The improvement in her general condition was most
noticeable and very gratifying.