GROWTH OF CHILDREN

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 50, Issue 155, 12 April 1930, Page 9

GROWTH OF CHILDREN

THE VALUE OF MILK. IMPORTANT INVESTIGATIONS. (Contributed). Durin" the last few years worldwide attention has been given to nutritional problems in i elation to stock production, such as . the mineral content of pastures investigation now proceeding in many Empire countries and centred in the Itowett Research Institute in Scotland. Such stock investigations are comparatively simple to carry out because a group of animals can be easily controlled; treatments can be simply varied-, and, it necessary, post-mortem examinations can be made Other fundamental researches include the all-important work on vitamins, those indefinable accessory factors essential to normal life, both animal and human. The results of the work on stock have indicated broadly the necessity of a completely-balanced ration of flesh-forming and health-producing materials, mainly organic; pt framebuilding materials, mainly inorganic; and of certain accessory factors in the form of vitamins which are essential for normal life and growth These investigations, which could not have been carried oiit on human beings, have afforded invaluable data for the alleviation of disease and for application to the general problems of improved health in humans. / During certain investigations on the effect of small additions of milk to the ration of pigs and poultry, remarkably increased growth and yieldswere obtained. This gave the Rowett Institute authorities the idea of can jmg out a series of tests oft the effect of a small daily ration of milk on the general health, growth and mentality of school-children. . Large scale tests organised over a period of three years in Scotland and Northern Ireland showed that the ad dition of milk to the diet of children in the larger towns was followed by an increased rate of growth and general physical improvement. Effect cf Milk Diet on Growth and Weight.

Arrangements were made to supply milk amounting to from three-quarters to one pint a day to large groups ol children in schools. Careful records were kept of weight, growth, health and general alertness in comparison with control groups of children oi equal ages and general standard. The following results were obtained over about six monthly periods m three successive years:—

In the last group the test was carried out in rural districts where the ordinary milk consumption at home was higher than in the first two groups ' being calculated at 3J pints per week as against 2i- pints per week. In addition to the remarkable increase in height and weight shown above, a distinct increase in liveliness and general alertness was shown by the children receiving the milk. In addition, average attendance of children receiving the milk was much higher. The main point to observe in these valuable investigations is that the improvements obtained were based on what is . regarded by the highest authorities as being the optimum amount of milk necessary for the growing child, i.e., ten pints per week. Further Developments. These experiments have aroused such universal interest that consultations between the health, agricultural and other authorities have resulted in the organisation of experiments on a scale that is described as being the largest and most comprehensive that has been attempted in the history of the world.

Another important aspect of a. milk diet in addition to its value.as a feeding adjunct is to be included in this investigation. This is to determine the effect of feeding with Tuberculin free tested milk as against Pasteurised milk. Groups of three lots of 5000 children are to be worked on for a period of six months and the experiments will be carried on for two years. This scheme is being financed purely by the Empire Marketing Board, which realises the importance of the work from an Imperial point of view. This experiment will be watched with .absorbing interest in all parts of the world, but from the results already obtained there is sufficient indication of the value of a plentiful supply of raw milk to the growing child. In New Zealand, where milk is in more abundant supply and of much better quailty than in the United Kingdom, the authorities should do all in their power to bring home to parents the moral of this work.

Increased consumption of * milk in the home will raise the general standard of health and mentality, and will reduce the incidence of many diseases from which children suffer.

1927 —Milk Non-milk Average increase in Height. Weight, groups 1.470in. 3.6l7lb. groups 1.212in. 2.97411). 0.258in. 0.6431b. 1928—Milk Noil-milk groups groups 1.459in. l.lSlin. 3.5781b. 2.4611b. 0.278in. 1.1171b. 1929—Milk Non-milk groups groups 1.402in. 1.125in. 4.3041b. 4.0001b. 0.277in. 0.3041b.