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16
There were some children found to be dirty, badly flea-bitten,
or lousy as regards their bodies. In the worst cases an effort
has been made by disinfection of the room and bedding to remedy
matters, but without much success, relapses occurring.

From this table it will be seen that 84% of the children
submitted to Routine Medical Inspection were classed as being
normal in nutrition. The children are classified on general grounds,
regard being had to the condition of the skin and mucous surfaces,
the glands, the muscular development, subcutaneous fat, and the
mental state of the child. This means that 16% of the children
were not receiving the proper nutriment necessary for growth and
activity. This does not, of course, mean that all these children do not
receive a sufficiency of food. The state of affairs may be due to one
of several other causes, among which it is probable that an unsuitable
dietary is responsible for a large proportion of the cases. Other
factors which produce this condition of malnutrition are environmental
conditions (such as lack of sleep, air, light, etc.), while in some
cases employment out of school hours will have a material effect
on this condition. It may be, however, that in some children who
do receive an otherwise sufficient and suitable dietary, there is
some disease condition which prevents due benefit being derived
from the nutriment given.