[Report 1947] / School Medical Officer of Health, Glamorgan County Council.

  • Glamorgan (Wales). County Council. nb2014013905.
Date:
1947
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1947] / School Medical Officer of Health, Glamorgan County Council. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    SCHOOL MEDICAL INSPECTION AND TREATMENT. 1. Nutrition. The Ministn- of Education this year, in place of the classification of Nutrition, “A” Excellent, B” Normal, “C” Slightly Sub-normal, and D” Bad, gave directions that a new heading “General Condition should be introduced, the groups being reduced from four to three : “A = Good ; “B” = Fair ; and ■'C’’ = Poor. The aim is to assess the clinical condition of the child, having in mind those conditions only to be found in the healthy, namely, alertness, good muscle tone, posture, and carriage and freedom from any sign of ill health as opposed to sluggishness and flabbiness which may be found in certain children of average weight for their age but yet not in sound health. It is the examining Medical Officer’s general impression of the child’s physical fitness which is required. In previous Annual Reports for the County, the percentage of children reported as undernourished has been in the region of 7-5—10%, the percentage in groups “C and “D” in 1946 being 7-70%, and one would have expected, under the new classification, the proportion grouped as “C” or Poor under the new grouping would have been something of the same order, or perhaps slightly higher. The returns for the year, however, show that of the 22,690 children examined (including those at the Blind School) 43-37% are given as “Good,’’ 52-65°o as “Fair,’’ and 3-98% as “Poor.” The explanation for this is that Medical Officers continued as previously to put a considerable proportion of normal children into the “B’’ category, rather than into “A.’’ which, under the old system, only included those in excellent health. The attention of the Officers concerned has been drawm to this matter. As the returns this year, for the reason given, cannot be compared with the figures in previous reports, the Medical Officers have been asked for an expression of opinion regarding the state of nutrition of the school population, and they are agreed with one exception that there has been no deterioration. Dr. D. J. Da\ies. Medical Officer of Health, Port Talbot, and Part-time Assistant Medical Officer, states that he has the impression that 11 plus pupils appear to be below the optimal state of nutrition, his report apropos this matter being as follows ;— “Nutrition : It is difficult, with the present ration scale, for mothers to provide adequate nutritious meals for school children. Many of the fathers in this area are engaged in heavy manual work either at steelworks or mines, and thus also require a high calorie diet. Cases of gross malnu- trition are veiy rare—thej* are usually neglected children. It is difficult to judge mild degrees of malnutrition. One has to reh' on impressions and not exact criteria. Though the general nutrition of school entrants appears to be satisfactory, a fair proportion of the 11 plus pupils appear to be below the optimal state of nutrition. This is however an impression. Despite the above impression, the provision of free school milk and dinners must help con- siderably to promote a satisfactory nutritional state among school children.” M'ith regard to the Maesteg area. Dr. Amdor reports that while the general standard of nutrition in that area is moderately good, the standard of nutrition throughout the district reveals too few children whom one could readily classify as Group “A,” and too many who are doubtfully classed as “B,” yet cannot be truthfully put into Class C”.” Milk and Meals in School. The duty laid on the authoritv to provide milk and dinners on school days is being met as far as possible, but the rate of progress of the scheme is linked up with the problem of building and equipping canteens. Progress towards the goal of a mid-day meal for all children attending County maintained schools who require it is however being made, and the reward which shows itself in the better health of the