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PARENTS PRESENT AT ROUTINE INSPECTIONS.
All parents receive written notice of the date of Routine Medical
Inspections at Schools and are invited to be present. 1,660 parents
were present, representing 84.4 per cent.
Only 2 objections were made to children being examined.
MALNUTRITION AND DEBILITY.
The statistical tables at the end of this report include one giving
the classification into four groups of all children who were examined
at routine medical inspections during the year. The groups are :—
A= Excellent. B=Normal. C=Slightly subnormal. D=Bad.
In classifying the cases the general well-being of the child and not the
height and weight only were taken into consideration.
The table shows that only 4.8 per cent. of the children examined
were found to be subnormal, and no child was considered as coming
within the fourth group as " Bad Nutrition."
In my previous reports I have given details of records which
have been kept of the heights and weights of children inspected, and
these records were again kept in 1937. These show that on height
and weight alone 8.4 per cent. of the children were regarded as
definitely underweight.
PROVISION OF MILK AT SCHOOL.
A sum of £50 was allowed in the estimates to provide milk at
school for children selected by the School Medical Officer ; and
274 children have received this daily issue during the months,
January to March, and September to December.
In September, 1934, the Milk Marketing Board's scheme to
supply milk to school children at one half-penny per bottle holding
one-third of a pint, was taken up in this district, and has continued
in force. The whole work of distribution and collection of cash
and checking is done by the teaching staff, and represents a considerable
amount of labour.
It would not be possible to carry out this scheme without the
willing co-operation of the teaching staff, and there is no doubt that
this daily addition of milk to the dietary is of value. The supply is
from selected sources, all the milk being pasteurised.
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