CARE OF CHILDREN

Taranaki Daily News, 1 November 1935, Page 8

CARE OF CHILDREN

HEALTH CAMPS’ GREAT VALUE. DR. ELIZABETH GUNN AT PATEA. Dr. Elizabeth Gunn, school medical officer to the Wanganui Education Board, gave an entertaining and instructive address on children's health at Patea on Wednesday. There was a large attendance of parents and members of the Plunket Society, by which Dr. Gunn’s visit had been arranged. Mrs. R. W. Haddow, president of the Patea branch of the society, who presided, stressed the need for greater cooperation between parents and doctor for the greater wellbeing of the child. With the Wanganui Education Board’s help, Dr. Gunn had established the first children’s health camp in New Zealand. She presented Dr. Gunn with a bouquet of roses.

Dr. Gunn, who brightened the subject matter of her address with humorous asides and reminiscences, said that no lecture would have brought her out on such a night, and thanked Mrs. Haddow and those present for the warmth of their welcome. As school medical officer she carried out the inspection of children wherever necessary, such examinations being compulsory in New Zealand. In some Australian States there was no compulsion, but in the Dominion, whether one liked it or not, one’s children had to be examined. Many people objected, but her experience had led her to be suspicious of children where an objection to examination was expressed.

In one instance three children were kept away from school on the day of her visit who were later found to be peeling after scarlet fever. Their father had kept them from school because he thought that his supply of milk to the factory would be stopped if their condition were discovered!

Good health, which was a priceless possession, was not valued until it had been lost. All children should be healthy, but many parents appeared to be a trifle disappointed if nothing wrong was found with their children and their time wasted in being present at the examination. Families of one child presented many problems. The child was often spoiled and neurotic. He would do and eat the same as his parents, make a fourth at bridge, and would rarely be in bed before ten, 'with consequent effects on school work. Such children should be taken from their parents or the parents given two or three more to look after. Fresh air was an important factor in maintaining good health, a temperature of from 60 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit being most desirable. All parents assured her that the windows were always open at night, but from her observation nobody in New Zealand appeared to sleep in the front of the house. ALL GAIN IN WEIGHT. Children in the health camp went to bed at seven, and slept until about seven In the morning. In one camp, despite successive weeks of rain, with mud and inconvenience everywhere, there had been a definite gain in weight by every one of the 130 children present. Preparation for bed was an important factor in the wellbeing of both children and adults. Children should go quietly to bed, warm milk being a good drink for them, and an absence of exciting games just before bed time. Cleanliness was of paramount importance, the hands, feet and teeth being particularly important. . Many parents who would not dream of putting a child to bed in damp pyjamas, sheets or blankets would permit the wearing of a flannel singlet or vest worn 'all day to be worn to bed. No garment worn during the day should on any pretext be worn to bed by child or adult. I ~

Many parents had the idea that the child had sufficient physical training at school to secure a correct posture and development. This was not correct. Hanging out clothes, cutting firewood, swimming, . dancing and all domestic work were.of value in development. tn the camps they had a band and a few bugle calls, the flag being saluted at morning, and night. Excellent results had been attained from the routine of fresh air, sunshine, proper rest and plenty of milk, the gains in weight being from 61b. to 141 b. in children from seven to 13 years of age. Strict equality was observed. There was no differentiation under any circumstances, and no payment was received from anyone. No visitors were allowed for the first eight days, which permitted the children to become used to the camp before any outside influence could spoil them. She took it as a great compliment that the children who had been with their parents for years would, after a few days, prefer to remain at the camp. Dirt and disease were closely associated, and germs thrive in. dirt. Filthy fingernails were .often the cause of septicaemea and scabies. People were not “fussy” enough over small things like their teeth and the care of the hands. Life was made up of little things, and people were more concerned with fleas than with elephants. In addition, cleaner children got more attention at school and elsewhere, the dirty child repelling the close attention its studies needed. NO SUBSTITUTE FOR MILK. Milk was the one thing for which no substitute had ever been found. In Scotland a test had been carried out with four groups, the first being supplied with whole milk, the second with skim milk, the third with a biscuit, and the fourth group was given no extra diet. Between those given whole and skim milk there was little difference, and none between those given a biscuit and those given nothing, but between the two pairs the difference was marked. For some reason skim or separated milk as a body builder was sadly underestimated. She wished she could say that the country children were healthier, clearer-eyed and bigger than the town children, but that was not the case, the opposite being the rule. Uninteresting lunches had also much to do with malnutrition, it being observed that the headmaster’s hens always looked well, being fed on the discarded luncheons of the scholars. Bread and jam seemed to constitute the lunches of most scholars, when at no greater cost palatable and nutritious meals could have been provided. Dr. Gunn spoke with enthusiasm of the work of the health camps, which she asserted were definitely health and not holiday camps. From a conversation with the late Mr. Lethbridge the idea of the camps had been formulated, and later, with the co-operation of the Wanganui Education Board the first camp had started. At Wanganui, where the gift of an ideal site had been made, a permanent health camp would soon be established. Life in the camps, and the routine, fashioned on military lines, was described by the speaker. Mr. E. F. Hemingway, chairman of the Wanganui Education Board, thanked Dr. Gunn for her address. He was sure that an equally keen and enthusiastic audience would gather at Patea to .welcome her on her next visit. The president said that she was sure that all had learned a great deal from Dr. Gunn’s address. It seemed regrettable that with such simple factors that governed the health of their children within easy reach that health camps should be necessary. A pianoforte solo was played by Miss Joan Nelson, and Miss Ruth Maim gave contralto solos. Tose present were the guests of the Plunket Society at supper.