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17. PARENTS PAYMENTS
The approved scales for the recovery of fees in respect of
treatment is the same as given in the 1938 report.
18. HEALTH EDUCATION. as for 1938.
19. SPECIAL ENQUIRIES
Nutrition.
(A) In January, at the request of the Ministry of Health and with
the permission of your Committee a special investigation was carried
out by medical specialists.
A total of 136 children was examined at three of the schools
which were regarded as most likely to produce the worst cases of
nutrition.
The findings were as follows:-
"School A. 59 children examined. Nutrition good or fair - 59.
Poor - Nil. Generally speaking the state of nutrition appeared
good and there was no evidence of possible riboflavin deficient:
"School B. 62 children examined. Nutrition good or fair - 61.
Poor - 1. Here again while we came to the conclusion that
general nutrition was on the average good, there was evidence
of some probable deficiency of riboflavin in a proportion of
cases best exemplified by a brother and sister, members of a
large family whose father is in the service.
"School C. 15 children examined. Nutrition good or fair - 15.
Poor - Nil. This school is situated in the poorer part of
Walthamstow. Again there is some evidence of minor deficiency
proably of riboflavin."
Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) is chiefly contained in milk, eggs and
cheese and little can be done to counteract any deficiency except to
follow the usual nutritional principles and to consume a good and
varied diet.
Dried skimmed milk is quite a good supplement to liquid milk.
Liver and Kidney are also suitable.
(B) In July 1943, again at the request of the Ministry of Health
and with the sanction of your Committee, a further investigation was
carried out by a special team of investigators led by Captain Mila
L. Fierce of the United States Army Medical Corps.
A total of 144 children was examined at three schools - two of
which were Schools A and C of the previous investigation.
Detailed home enquiries were carried out in 85 cases by your
School Nurses.
The findings were published in the "Proceedings of the Royal
Society of Medicine" Vol.XXXVII No.7 May 1944, and more fully in the
report of the Oxford Nutrition Survey. A copy of the report has
been supplied to me by courtesy of Dr. H.M.Sinclair, the Director or
the Survey, and the following summary is taken from his report.
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