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school child's supply of these products. He has had to substitute
for these substances an increased consumption of potatoes, bread,
and milk.
This change of diet has been accomplished without obvious
detriment to the child. It is probable that school children are
drinking milk in larger quantities than ever before, and this is
largely due to the facilities granted to them by the Ministry of Food
in conjurction with the Milk Marketing Board. I have no hesitation
in saying that the present reasonably satisfactory state of
nutrition of our children is in a measure due to foresight in this
direction. Milk still remains the finest food for children, and,
whilst there is a sufficiency of it, the greater part of our difficulties
in nutrition of children can be overcome. Limitation in eggs and
cheese are unfortunate in that both these are good foods. The
other factor one has to consider is the supply of vitamins to children.
It would appear that the one vitamin likely to be deficient is that
which prevents rickets, and much has been done in this respect
by adding it in definite quantities to margarine.
The change in diet has, in my opinion, rendered routine inspection
of school children all the more necessary, both for full
examination and as a nutrition survey, and both have been effected
throughout the course of the year in Enfield. The results show that
the nutrition of the children has been maintained at a reasonably
high level, and no evidence has been forthcoming so far to show
that the children are suffering from any gross dietetic deficiency.
On the whole they are vigorous and healthy. The extent of their
resistance to disease is somewhat difficult to gauge for there has
been a comparative absence of disease in the district throughout
the course of the year. The severe winter of 1942 will be a test as
to the power of children to throw off such infections as usually
accompany a hard winter, and it is already possible to say that
so far they have shown a resiliency and a return to health after
coughs and colds, which is more than encouraging when one remembers
the rigour of the winter, and the bodily and mental unhealthiness
of the black-out.
A further matter which has given cause for consideration has
been the increased incidence of diseases of the skin, including
Scabies or the "Itch." Continued inspection of children has
enabled me to keep these conditions under control.
Lastly, I would refer to the fact that at Routine Inspection,
amongst other diseases which were discovered, it was found that
198 children were suffering from diseases of the throat needing
treatment, that 127 needed observation for such conditions, and
that 40 children needed treatment for infective conditions of the