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101
For example, a family of children may be examined for
suspected malnutrition, one or two are under weight, pale
and lethargic, and classed as mal-nourished ; the remainder
may appear up to the average weight for age, of fair muscular
tone, and moderately good colour : they are all receiving the
same adequate or inadequate diets. The explanation is that
the apparently " normal " children are superior physical types
debased to the average level; the ill-nourished are average
physiques, revealing readily the effects of under-nourishment.
Is it policy to feed the one and not the other?
Again, children may be examined from families in which
financial stringency is great and yet attain the average
standard of physical development by reason of parental
sacrifice.
If the need for assistance is to be judged by examination
of the food available it is necessary to define an adequate diet.
It may be accepted as the result of numerous investigations
that diets adequate for growth and development at
differing age periods are available, and their present cost
easily computed. It is therefore unquestionably more accurate
to determine the need for assistance by an arithmetical
examination of the family income, than by a physical examination
of the child.
Milk and Cod Liver Oil.
There are certain substances essential for the needs of
the body which must be present in the ingested food.
Unfortunately these are found mainly in foods which are least
satisfying in bulk and most expensive in price. They include
roughly, milk, butter, eggs, cheese, meat and fish, and are
needed particularly during those years in which active growth
of the body should be taking place.
When'the available income begins to diminish the housewife's
first concern is to relieve the immediate hunger of her
children and this is effected by the purchase of such foods as
bread, potatoes, porridge and the like, which readily fill the
Stomach, but do not build a healthy body.