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87
"The feeding of pregnant women is a great problem. The
varied diet which can be obtained from a nice, good dinner given
daily is, of course, ideal. Unfortunately, the psychological, effect
of receiving the dinner frequently destroys all the good that should
be obtained from it. A mother is usually very sensitive at these
times. Many women would prefer to go hungry rather than
expose themselves in a public dining-room for the sake of a free
meal—humiliation would deprive many mothers of the much needed
nourishment.
"When there is a big family and other children returning from
school, the mother could not be expected to leave home during the
dinner-hour to go and get her own meal.
"Our variable climate and lack of proper clothing places
another difficulty in the way. These are just a few commonsense
reasons. There are many grave medical ones which unfortunately
rob the daily dinner of much of its value.
"The Council supplies the expectant mother with milk three
months before confinement. Apart from the fact of health building,
the mental relief obtained from this practice is quite wonderful.
The anxiety of the weekly milk bill is removed and the mother feels
she is able to do her duty to the "little one" ever present in her
mind, without hurting the rest of the family. Butter and eggs,
although considered to be of such high nutritional value, are at the
moment practically unknown in these homes and one cannot overestimate
the benefit to be derived from the addition of these fortifying
foods to the expectant mother's diet."
To Messrs. Virol, Ltd., we owe thanks for a very interesting
series of research carried out during the year on 72 children of
various ages below five years The research furnished valuable
data regarding diet supplements for children as well as enabling
us to give these 72 children well over £50 worth of Virol, halibut
liver oil, cod liver oil, and dried milks, etc., free of charge to the
Council.
The 72 children were divided into four groups. Each child
was known by a number. There were four different treatments,
each lasting six weeks. Total period of trial, six months.
1st treatment—Halibut Oil and Dried Milk.
2nd „ —Cod Liver Oil.
3rd „ —Virol.
4th „ —No treatment.
"Proper instructions as to amounts and times to be taken were
given to each mother.