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Now, on the question of rheumatism, whether the acute
form, the sub-acute, chronic rheumatoid arthritis, fibrositis,
etc., one must speak with more reserve. Few doctors would,
I suppose, send their rheumatic patients to Wembley for a
cure, but they might do worse very easily. I have known
many patients with chronic rheumatism, and arthritis, who
have resided for years on gravel near the Thames, improve
in a marked degree after a few months residence in Wembley.
Still one would be guarded in giving any positive statement,
and this would apply to all forms of chest disease too. Other
factors may intervene—lack of means—insufficient nourishment,
and every kind of depressing circumstance will necessarily
militate against the well known advantages of the
district.
NUTRITION OF THE UNEMPLOYED AND THE MILK
SUPPLY.
Fortunately it cannot be said that, as a district, we have
a large percentage of unemployed. One is sometimes asked
about their physical condition and it may be stated that we
have received no information of cases of serious malnutrition.
Actual starvation is extremely rare in England, and is not
known in Wembley by your Social workers—but it is evident
that many suffer from inability to obtain certain constituents
of an efficient and wholesome diet. They do not receive
the best protein (Albuminous food), calcium—iron and the
essential vitamins A and D, and as a result one sees anaemia
—dental decay—lassitude and loss of weight, etc.
The lower the family income the higher must be the percentage
income spent on food. The cheap foods—sugar,
bread and margarine, etc., may satisfy hunger, but do not
adequately maintain the best health. It is true, unfortunately,
that not every housekeeper has been taught, or has
acquired the art of good management; and there must be
many who, at times, are quite short of food when all the
other necessaries of life have been provided for—(there is
a strange anomoly with regard to the present system of relief.
The single man, however deserving, however destitute, has
only the option of "the House "—he can receive no relief).
As regards diet, you are about to issue to your Clinics,
as soon as published, tables of diet, preparations of best
food that can be bought with very little money, and which
for taste—calories—vitamin content compare favourably with
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