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children after an interval of time, are possibly sufficient to discredit
attempts at accurate work in this direction.
It is obvious that the correct method of dealing with
"malnutrition" is to give the child adequate "nourishment." This
practice is not quite so simple as the description seems to imply.
Emphasis is now constantly placed on the fact that the child's
state of nutrition depends not only on the quality and quantity of
the food which he eats, but also on important factors such as fresh
air, sunlight, and adequate exercise. The word "nutrition" means
"the nourishment of the child or the general well-being of the
child. It is the process of normal growth and healthy maintenance
of the child's body in function as well as in substance." In
treating the child who is suffering from deficient nutrition, therefore,
an endeavour is made to compensate him for his previous
lack of all or any of these factors. Severe cases may be admitted
to a day or residential open-air school such as Fyfield, and the
results obtained will be found in the appropriate section of this
report. Other children may be sent to convalescent homes. In
necessitous cases free meals may be provided, and those who can
do so may participate in the voluntary milk scheme which is in
operation in the schools.
(b) Uncleanliness. Dirty and verminous children who are
discovered at routine or special inspections, or during cleanliness
surveys, are followed up at their homes until they are clean. A
certain number are cleansed at the school clinics, the consent of
the parents having been first obtained. The number of children
examined was 79,476. The conditions found were as follows:—
Ova 6,805
Ova and pediculi 1,230
Body pediculi 1
Head and body pediculi 15
Sores 379
Dirty 113
The percentages for head and body vermin were 1.56 and
0.02 respectively. The number of children who were visited at
their homes was 4,260, and the number visited at school was
7,614.
In connection with this work 1,554 unclean heads were
dealt with. In addition 9 cases in which the body was unclean,
373