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72
It may be noted here that in 1933 a Committee on Nutrition appointed
by the British Medical Association suggested a figure of 5/10½ as a minimum
for providing food for each adult man per week. As at the present ascertained
the cost of food would be about 7/1½ per adult man per week.
(c) Capabilities of Mother.
Information was obtained regarding 190 mothers who were classified
as follows :
Poor housewives 89
(of whom 26 were suffering from definite illhealth)
.
Good housewives 101
(d) Employment of Father.
Loss of working Capacity, loss due to bad weather or seasonal unemployment
were reported in 114 cases.
(e) Employment of Mother.
Mothers employed away from home during some part of the day 24
(f) Hours of Sleep.
The hours of sleep of the children were ascertained and varied from 8
to 14 hours, the average being 11.4 hours. Dependance, however, cannot
be placed upon the hours of sleep stated either by the parents or by the
children. There are various reasons for inaccuracy into which it is not
necessary to enter. There is evidence, however, that the hours of sleep
have little effect on the condition of sub-normal nutrition.
Conclusions.
From what has been stated it is quite apparent that there are three
main factors which influence the state of nutrition of the children. The
first is the large size of the family, the second the smallness of the family
income and the third, which is of necessity closely related to the second,
is the uncertain employment of the father.
Milk in Schools.
A large number of the children ultimately diagnosed as suffering from
sub-normal nutrition were already in receipt of milk at the cost of the
Education Committee and where the circumstances were considered to be
necessitous those that were not already in receipt of milk were granted it
forthwith. As many as 68 children were added to the list of those already
receiving milk and it may be stated quite definitely that as a result of the
survey all sub-normal children whose parents were unable to afford to pay
for the milk were given it. Many of them were provided with a third of
a pint of milk twice a day at the cost of the Committee. Whereas 19 children
had a double supply of milk each day before the survey, 110 had it after.