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at the Open-Air School some time, and all had made
satisfactory growth.
There was little variation in the growth in height. The
majority grew exactly an inch, whilst others gained ¼ inch
to inches. The average gain was an inch—the boys
gaining slightly under 1 inch, the girls slightly over 1 inch.
The average gain in height for a year of a boy from 10
to 11 years is If inches and for a girl in the same period
2 inches, so the gain of the children under consideration is
satisfactory.
(4) Intercurrent Illnesses. A study of the returned
medical reports show that in only five cases was medical
treatment needed. One case of bronchitis with otitis media,
another case of bronchitis, and one case of impetigo of the
face were treated in the homes. Two cases of illness were
treated in the Schaffhausen Kinderspital (Children's
Hospital), the cases being a pulmonary condition and
tonsillitis. There were cases of minor chills and "tummy"
upsets, and two slight injuries—the boy who was run into
by a wheel-barrow and a girl who was hit in the chest and
received a slight bruise. Considering the many and varied
activities of the children, this number is surprisingly small.
The children were all obviously happy, and were
pleased to relate their experiences. They seemed to have
a store of information, and many had the mannerisms of
the "Continentals not a few spoke a little German.
They have had an experience they will not forget, and the
mothers (and one father) expressed their thanks for what
had been done for the children. One father has written a
particularly nice letter of appreciation to the School Medical
Officer.
THE WORK OF THE SCHOOL NURSES
NUTRITION. Nutritional surveys were continued on the
same basis as in previous years, and occupied a substantial
proportion of the school nurses' time. Commitments in other
directions restricted the inspections to approximately one per
year for most of the children, but an endeavour was made to
follow up more frequently those children who were not making
satisfactory progress. The ideal is a six-monthly, or even
terminal, inspection, but the general findings at these surveys
are so good that a temporary increase in the interval between
inspections can be viewed without undue alarm. It is aimed
to return to the six-monthly inspections as soon as possible.
All children whose weight or height appears to be at a
standstill, or whose general condition seems to require investigation,
are referred to the Medical Officer. It is a tribute both
to the war-time rationing scheme and to the efficiency of the
School Meals Service that the number of children referred from
the surveys for further investigation is so few and that the
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