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52
endeavouring to carry out the many extra duties connected with
the war effort, and there is no record of any investigation on these
lines having been carried out.
Although a trained observer can form a reliable estimate of
the nourishment or malnourishment of a child in many ways, such
findings are never more than expressions of opinion ; and the only
' yardstick ' available at the present time for the assessment of
health in young children is gain in weight.
Report of Dr. Menzies.
The most striking fact has been the rapid turn-over of children.
In theory one would have expected that with certain exceptions
(e.g. the mother becoming pregnant) a child admitted to a day
nursery would have remained at the nursery until he went to school.
The majority of children who left within four weeks were considered
by their mothers to be "fretting," and after going over
the records of those children under two years who remained in the
nurseries over three months I think it is possible they made a wise
decision in withdrawing them. Seventy-six left within three
months. Thus, of 32 children who were admitted in their first year
and stayed more than three months, eight gained 0-8 oz. in weight
in the first three months in the nursery, and another seven gained
8-16 oz. An average gain at this age is 1 lb. per month.
The following table shows the gain in weight in the first three
months, in the second three months, and in the first twelve months
of two groups in each nursery (those admitted when they were
between 12-18 months, and those admitted when they were between
18 months and 2 years). Besides showing the average gain in
weight in each group over the period stated, I have indicated the
number of children in each group on which the gain in weight is
calculated. It is obvious that the number who remained in the
nurseries over twelve months are a definitely selected group, and
the number in each age group is too small to form any definite
conclusions.
The average gain in weight of children between 1-2
years is 5-7 lbs., so that these gains appear to be at the lower limit
of normality.