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44
OBSERVATIONS ON SCHOOL CHILDREN IN THE
YEARS 1943 AND 1944.
BY
A. ORGLER,
Temporary Assistant Medical Officer of Health.
Any nutrition of children, to be sufficient, has to fulfil two
conditions—first, to guarantee a normal growth, and second, as
far as possible, to protect children against diseases.
The aim of the following observations was to find out
whether the nutrition of school children in Bromley in wartime
fulfils both these conditions.
The findings are based on the measurements of weight and
height of these school children at routine inspection and on my
clinical observations at the School Clinic. I have already reported
(see Annual Report, 1943) my investigations concerning
those school children averaging 13 years in 1943, while the following
new observations include the school children of 13 years
examined in 1944 (the "leavers"), as well as the school children
averaging 8 years (the "intermediates") examined in 1943 and
1944, the latter, that is the "intermediates," 1943-44, being compared
with the "intermediates "examined in 1938 and 1939. I
have obtained 2,450 measurements, of height as well as of weight,
belonging to about 1,900 children, the difference in the figures
being due to the "intermediates" examined in 1938 and 1939 I
being again examined as "leavers" in 1943 and 1944.

It is to be noted that when giving consideration to the intermediate
age group, the average rate of increase in weight may
be taken as ½ lb. per month. This should be taken into account
when comparing the above figures owing to slight difference in
ages.