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10
The medical staff has kept a close watch on the nutritional condition
of the children during the year, and the matter has been
fully reviewed in conference at the close of the year.
It was the considered judgment of the members of the medical
staff that not only had the nutritional standard been maintained,
but it had appreciably improved.
It is to be hoped that experience during 1935 will show an even
better standard of nutrition if the consumption of milk under the
Milk Marketing Board's scheme can be maintained
Nutrition.—Dr. Broderick reports as follows:—
"Unless children are given plenty of good nourishing food they
cannot be expected to have good nealth and develop a really good
physique.
" Owing to the economic depression of the past few years parents
of the working classes have not been in a position to provide their
children with really nourishing food, and it has therefore been an
anxious time for those engaged in the work of school medical
inspection.
"Since fresh air is also necessary to maintain good health,
Walthamstow children are fortunate in living near Epping Forest,
where the air is so healthy.
"During the past year 5,866 children were medically examined
and of these only 3 per cent. were found to be suffering from
malnutrition.
"It is true that 704 children were referred by the teachers and
from the clinics as being in need of extra nourishment and were
granted milk.
"Therefore, in all, about 4.7 per cent. only of the total children
of the area were granted milk during the year, a fact which, in
my opinion, is remarkable when one considers the income of the
average household from which these children come.
"The scheme by which children can obtain one-third of a pint
of milk daily for one halfpenny is of immense value in maintaining
the nutrition of these children who are up to standard and who
cannot therefore benefit by the free grant of milk on medical
grounds.
"The Committee also helps by the provision of free dinners,
and during 1934, 87,161 meals were served at the centres; the
average cost of each meal was 4.l4d.