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36
A child who is dirty is always to he viewed with
suspicion, not only as regards his own health, but also
as a possible source of vermin or infections condition.
Keeping this in mind, there is only one method of
assessing the state of a child, namely, "clean" or
"dirty." A fairly clean child is also a fairly dirty
child. Knowing this, it is understandable when I state
that there are qnite a large number of dirty children,
especially in some of the schools.
Vermin 1 do not see much of, a fact which speaks
well for the methods of inspection and control exercised
by the school nurses. If, however, that control should
at any time be withdrawn, one could well imagine
what the result would be.
It is safe to say that in all these things Bromley
is a good population, and will continue to be so while
constant supervision is maintained.
The Prime Minister's statement regarding the debt
of so many to so few might well be applied to a large
proportion, if not all, of the population in regard to
the Public Health Services."
A nutritional survey was commenced in April, 1940,
but failed'in its full application owing to the prevailing
conditions and limited time available to tbe staff to
make the detailed investigation.
The survey was taken on broad lines with an
endeavour to investigate the cause of so-called malnutrition.
The three age groups, 7 years, 10 years, 13 years,
were first "heighted" in their various age groups,
and from the "height" group a "general appearance"
selection was made of those children who appea'red
undernourished. This selection of children from the
height first, by no means scientific, was an attempt
in the early stages of the investigation to eliminate
the constitutionally "small" child, who so frequently
appeals in malnutrition tables as low grade. This
"small" child is, as a rule, a child with sound health.
Having selected from the height grouping the child
who appeared "undernourished," special investigation
was then made in these directions: (1) Class Teacher's
report, (2) Health Visitor's report on home environment