CHILDREN'S HEALTH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 232, 2 October 1933, Page 11

CHILDREN'S HEALTH.

PRESENT-DAY CONDITIONS.

The subject of the feeding of children was brought before Dr. Ada Paterson when she was in Auckland on Thursday, and she was asked whether much malnutrition had come under her personal notice. ]n view of the difficulty of the present time, said the doctor, special attention had been given to this question by officers of the School Medical Service and the returns giving the result for the last nine years showed little variation in the percentage of subnormal nutrition. In the year J932 it was 5.51 ; Jα 1031, G.GS; 1930, 0.30; 1929, 7.00; 1928, (5.84; 1927, 7.14; 1026, 7.45; 192,"), 9.21; 1924, 5.85. These iigures were taken from between 00,000 to 70,000 examinations annually, and might* be regarded »ae a reliable base for comparison. As might be expected, the percentage of children attending the primer classes of tho primary schools was somewhat greater in malnutrition. The figures were:— 1932, 8.20; 1931, 7.4.1; 1930, S. 01; 1929, 8.24; 1928, 8.07; 192(i, 5.39.

The conclusion!?' readied by Dr. Pater - sou arc that generally speaking all over the Dominion there is no evident increase in the number of school children suffering from malnutrition, and that there is no increase in the country t.istricts, where food is readily available, and any necessitous cases can bo dealt with locally. Most of the school officers state that there is a group of children in the cities, in the primer classes, which show clinical signs of bad feeding. Their food is poor in quality rather tli'an in quantity, deficient in vitamins, first-class proteins, and fat; milk, fresh eggs, butter, fresh vegetables and meat are lacking. Special measures for maintaining or improving the nutrition of pupils have been inaugurated in many schools with beneficial cffect, hot cocoa or milk or soup being made available at lunch time. Another factor which is showing in the health of the young child is lack of sleep, rest, fresli air and sunlight, and these are as readily available in New Zealand as in any other country. Then, again, much rests with the care of the mother in handling a small income, for some mothers use 6inall means intelligently, while others muddle along with bad food and bad cooking, whatever their means. One of the most valuable assets of this country consists in the good management and cheerful capability of many housewives with slender resources. It must not be forgotten, said the doct.or, that even during times of prosperity a definite percentage of children showed evidence of malnutrition, but factors other than poor food powerfully influenced nutrition. In particular, too little responsibility was assigned to the bad cffect of inadequate sleep, and that applies to the well-to-do and poor alike. A sound rule was, "Under 12 years, 12 hours' sleep." In comfortable homes talented children were too often over-stimulated and spoiled, and allowed to stay up too late.