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Physical Condition.
The medical officer's survey at the periodic medical inspections has included an
estimate of the child's general condition. This was classified into three grades:
"Good", "Fair" and "Poor". The percentages in these three grades in 1955 were:-
Good Fair Poor
41.07 57.70 1.23
A child placed in the "Good category had to be really good. He was a child well developed,
with plenty of vitality and vigour and showing a keen interest in life. A "Fair" child was
a normal average or satisfactory child. A child in the "Poor" category was one who
appeared tired, listless, undernourished, dull and perhaps with poor posture - he was under
suspicion at once and he was fully investigated.

This period covered the change which took place in 1947 from the Ministry's previous
four point classification. For a period the figures showed instability, due largely to
uncertainty of interpretation of the new categories. There are many factors which can
influence this essentially subjective assessment, so that there still remained some doubt
how far even the more recent figures could be regarded as giving a valid comparison.
On the 1st January, 1956, a new system of classification was introduced and the medical
officer now assesses the physical condition of the child rather than the general condition
as in previous years. The results cannot, therefore, be compared with the assessments of
previous years. There are now only two categories - "Satisfactory" and "Unsatisfactory".
The reason for having two categories only is a practical one - every child whose physical
condition is considered unsatisfactory should be thoroughly investigated, including his
home conditions, so that he can be made as fit as possible. The figures for 1956 are as
follows:-
Satisfactory 99.87 Per cent
Unsatisfactory 0.13 per cent
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