HEALTH NOTES.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 19 May 1928, Page 13

HEALTH NOTES.

SCHOOL) Children. MEDICAL GALE AND SUPER,.VISION.. (Contributed by the Department ' of Health.) Records of school medical work in New Zealand show that in recent, years the children of this Dominion have not only improved in general health and physique but suffer to a less extent from remediable defects. It is interesting to note that similar progress is observed in other countries. With regard to England Sir George Newman, Chief Medical' Officer, Board of Education, England and Wales, writes as follows in his last annual report: “1 do not think that there can be much doubt that the physical condition and capacity of elementary school children throughout the country shows definite improvement (and not the reverse) during the last twenty years. From the data available it seems the child of to-day is stronger, taller, and heavier than the child of 1907. He is a. better nourished child. To what is this due? The medical care and supervision of the child before and during school life is producing its effect; better nurture, the remedy of infective conditions which gravely impair physique,'school meals, physical training, more fresh air, and improved school sanitation can scarcely fail in the long run. The direct treatment of ailments and defects- removes causes of weakness less dental decay, less mouth-breathing, fewer inflamed tonsils and glands, less tuberculosis and anaemia, a decline in severe Tickets. There has also been great reform in the social life of the people, better bousing conditions, better feeding, more cleanliness, better clothing, and more fresh air. Heredity is a mighty factor in the building of physique, but the influence of nurture runs it very close, and it has this advantage over heredity that we can control it directly. What sort of child do we want? What are the reasonable characteristics which the employer remands ?_ What does a parent desire for his child ? First, a strong and healthy body, alert and capable of energy and endurance, if not well-trained at least subjected and accustomed to discipline and to steady and increasing nervous control. Secondly, he rightly asks for high character, truthfulness, honesty, diligence, orderliness, reliability, courtesy. These virtues do not spring full made from good physique, but a healthy mind goes well with, a healthy and clean body, and to learn to harness and control the body is to learn self-know-ledge and lay a basis of sound character Thirdly, he would like creative capacity. Children forget most of the facts of knowledge within a year or two of their acquisition, but the method and love of learning may be so instilled as to- remain. Both are intimately associated with health of body and keenness of the senses. The dull, backward, sickly, or defective child is of no remunerative value to the employer, because it cannot produce work or respond to the demands of industry. Hand-work, eyework, measuring, weighing, checking, correct counting, dear writing—these are the means of good workmanship. It cannot be too clearly understood that health is not an artificial accomplishment, quickly acquired and easily maintained. It is a development of body and mind; a growth, slow in process ; a habit, broad-based upon heredity and nurture; a balance of moderation in all things; a harmony of a sound mind in a sound body, good nutrition combined with steady nervous regulation. It is out of such health that creative capacity comes. One the whole, the best children physically r.re trie best children» mentally; and a sound educational system is not dependent in childhood on improved methods of education only but on a body nurture, on better feeding, on nervous control and regulation, on a steady growth of bone, muscle and brain. We liave been told ■on. high authority that feeding wins more horse races than training Feeding is equally important; for rho child. Rut I would call the “feeding” total nutiition, for this is certainly the first and perhaps the most important of all the requirements of individual and national health.