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105
(5) FINDINGS OF MEDICAL INSPECTION.
Table II (A) on pages 146 and 147 gives in detail a return of defects found
during the course of routine and special inspections at ordinary elementary schools
and at the clinics.

(a) Malnutrition.—Last year I pointed out that, in estimating to what extent
malnutrition exists among school-children, the most reliable figures are those
relating to cases found during routine and special inspections. Last year out of
4,117 children so examined it was found that 4,107 children were satisfactorily
nourished. This year the figures are arranged somewhat differently, and out of
6,895 children examined, it was found that in 6,871 cases nutrition was satisfactory.
It is very difficult indeed to assess nutrition in terms " excellent," " normal,"
" slightly subnormal " and " bad," and of course, the personal factor of the
examining medical officer is an important one. It must of necessity be some time
before a reasonably stable standard of values is available to compare one year with
another and one part of the country with another.
It is a matter of congratulation that for every child whose nutrition is said
to be " bad " there are 100 children who are said to be " excellent."