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Malnutrition may be due to improper food, although the total
amount taken is adequate. Proteins and fats are expensive, carbohydrates
relatively cheap. In times of financial stringency the
cheapest foods must be bought, and thus children obtain an undue
proportion of carbohydrate food and too little protein and fat. Milk
is undoubtedly the most valuable food to make good the pprotein
and fat deficiency, though the milk must be above bacteriological
suspicion. If every child attending the Elementary Schools could
be given one pint of milk per day in school, the benefit would
amply repay any cost on the public funds.
During 1933, with very few exceptions, the scheme of the
National Milk Publicity Council which commenced in September,
1929, was continued in the schools. In 1933 some 5,000 bottles
of milk per day were supplied. This is a drop of 2,000 bottles
per day on 1932.
This scheme has one grave defect inasmuch as, owing to financial
reasons, children who would benefit most do not get the milk.
This probably accounts for the drop in the number of bottles of
milk supplied. A number of these, however, are dealt with
direct by recommendations from the school medical officers and so
come under another scheme by which milk, up to 1 pint, and malt
and oil, are given at graduated prices, or free, to malnourished
children. Through the co-operation of the teachers this extra
nourishment is given at school so that the child is sure of a
regular supply. Severe malnutrition in childhood leaves an
indelible mark on physique. Childhood is the great growing
period. Nutrition is a subject of fundamental importance and
should always be of concern to parents, doctors and teachers.
Much of the widespread ignorance among parents on economical
and efficient catering would be dispelled in a future generation if
every girl and boy was soundly grounded in the subject of food
values and the science and art of cooking before leaving school.
It cannot be repeated too often that unsuitable, badly chosen food
may cause as much malnutrition as too little food. The science
of buying wisely is one which deserves acknowledgment in educational
curricula.
Heights and Weights.
Table III. gives the results of an enquiry made to ascertain
the average heights and weights of all children examined at routine
inspection of 1933. The full value of this table will not be obtained
until similar records for ten consecutive years have been analysed;
when this is completed the rate of growth can be followed, so far
as Croydon children are concerned, throughout school life.