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188
Malnutrition has been said to be negligible in its
worst sense in Barking, but this does not influence the
statement that there can be a large number of children
who though normal are at the "C" or sub-normal
level of nutrition. It is in these cases that milk is
recommended before any serious defect is likely to occur
in the child. The financial circumstances of these
cases are subject to investigation and must obviously
come within the term necessitous, and thereafter the
provision of the recommended milk is allowed free.
It must also be noted that the increase in free milk
has not in any way materially influenced the sale of the
½d. bottles of milk as described in my last year's Report.
The milk provided is subject, from time to time, to
bacteriological and other analysis, and during the year
has been found invariably of standard quality. In my
Annual Report for 1934, I dealt with this subject from
two or three aspects, and find it unnecessary to add to
what I wrote on that occasion.
During 1938, ½d. bottles of milk were again issued
during the school holidays. Thirteen centres covering
all schools with the exception of Faircross, Park
Modern, Manor, St. Joseph's and St. Ethelburga's,
were arranged with voluntary helpers in charge of each
centre. During the summer holidays 5,449 free bottles
of milk were issued and 43,452 bottles purchased.
(c) Cod Liver Oil and Malt, etc.—Following the
approval of the Board of Education in 1937, the issue
of Cod Liver Oil and Malt and similar preparations to
ordinary elementary school children has been carried
out, and from the accompanying figures it is obvious
that full advantage has been taken of this extra service.