HEALTH NOTES

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVIII, Issue 136, 9 May 1928, Page 8

HEALTH NOTES

SCHOOL CHILDREN. MEDICAL CARE AND SUPERVISION. (Contributed by Department of Health). Records of school medical work in New Zealand show that in recent years tho children of this Dominion have not only improved in general health and physique but,-suffer to a less extent train 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 annual report: “I do not think that there can be much doubt that the physical condition and capacity of elementary school children throughout the country shows definito improvement (and not the reverse) during the last twenty years. From the data available it seems that tho child of to-day is stronger, taller, and heavier than the child of 1907. He is a better nourished child. Toi what is this due? The medical care and supervision of the child beforo and during school life is producing its effect; better nurture, tho 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 K less mouthbroatlung, fewer inllamed tonsils and glands, less tuberculosis and anaemia, a decline in severe rickets. There has also been great reform in the social life of tho people, bettor housing conditions, better feeding, more cleanliness, better clothing, and more fresh air. Heredity is a mighty factor in tho building of physique, but the influence of nurture runs it very dose, and it has this advantage over heredity that we can control it directly. “What sort of child do wo want? What aro the reasonable characteristics which tho employer demands? 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-knowledge 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 tho 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 tho employer because it cannot produce work or respond to the demands of industry. Hand-work, eye-work, measuring, weighing, checking, correct counting, clear writing—these are the means of good workmanship. It cannot be too clearly understood that health is not tan 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 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 conies. On the whole, the best children physically aro the best children mentally; and a sound educational system is not dependent in childhood on improved methods of education only but.on body nurture, on better feeding, on nervous control and regulation, on a steady growth of bone, muscle, and brain.. We have been told on high authority that feeding wins more horse races than training. Feeding is equally important for the child. But I would call the ‘feeding’ total nutrition, for this is certainly tho first and perhaps tho most important of all tho requirements of individual and national health.”