View report page

19,
"The physical and mental welfare of the children I see at the
clinics has not deteriorated because of the war. On the whole,
it may be said to have improved slightly, There is, however,
a greater tendency to minor ailments, (i.e. septic spots, impetigo,
catarrhal colds, etc.) which is probably the outcome of the
children recoiving less care and supervision, at home due to so
many mothers being engaged in war industry.
There is no doubt as to the value of school meals and milk.
The children invariably improve and put on weight. It is
particularly to school meals that the improvement is due and,
the extension of this valuable measure to all children is very
desirable.
It is sometimes conspicuous that the mal-nourished children of
the improvident or very poor homos, who need this extra nourishment
most, are deprived of it through the carelessness or lack
of co-operation on the part of their mothers.
This accounts to some extent, for the families of very undernourished
children one still meets with in various parts of
the Borough.
In many of those instances, the mother too is in a poor state
of health, and because of this, probably lacks the initiative and
energy to avail herself of the facilities provided by the local
authority.''
The services for the examination and the treatment of the children
attending both the elementary and secondary schools have continued, to full capacity.
The scheme for the inspection and treatment of children attending secondary and
technical schools by this Department, on behalf of the Middlesex County Council,
was continued, and during the year was extended to include tho treatment of
Orthopaedic and Orthodontic defects, and minor ailments. Tho various forms of
treatment therefore, which have been provided for the children attending the
elementary schools are now available to the secondary school children, and while
it is not possible to deal with them in detail in a report of this nature, the
appended Tables will give some indication of the volume of work which was undertaken:-