New-York tribune., 1917-07-26
For Underfed Children
What the City Is Doing to Remedy
Their Case
To the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: In your issue Of July 9Th, you pub
lshed letter signed by Clarence Y. Palitz,
member Of the Board Of Aldermen, in which
he made a statement to the effect that $50
far, no effort has been made by the City of
New York to remedy the condition of these
anamic and underfed children"
This paragraph, presume, refers to school
children suffering from the various degrees
Of malnutrition, of whom there are large
number and for whom much has been done
by the Department of Education and the De-
partment Of Health, as we'll as by many phil
anthropic societies working in the City of
New York.
| have written a letter to Mr. Palitz, a
copy of which is herewith inclosed, calling
his attention to some of the things which are
being done at the present time for these
anamic children, and also informing him
that the departments of the City of New
York are thoroughly alive to the needs of
the situation and doing their utmost to meet
them.
May ask that you publish the following
copy Of my letter to Mr.. Palitz?
R. H. WILLIS, MD.
Acting Director, Bureau of Child Hygiene,
Department Of Health.
New York, July 23, 1917.
Dear Sir: My attention has been called to
an article which appeared in The New York
Tribune on July 9Th, over your signature.
In this article certain statements were made
to the effect that the City of New York has
made no effort up to the present time to
remedy the conditions found among children
of the anemic and underfed type l do not
feel that the facts are as stated, and should
like TO take this opportunity to call your at
tention to the following:
The Department of Education at the pres
ent time maintains some eighty-seven open
air classes throughout the city, where chill
dren OF this type are educated under the
most favorable conditions and their health is
very closely supervised. Special equipment is
provided so that these children may remain in
the open air practically all Of the time they
are in school. -..
School lunches are being maintained in
some ffty-six schools throughout the city,
where children Of this type may obtain a
wholesome lunch at a minimum cost, or even
for nothing where unable to pay.
Children suffering from active pulmonary
LESSONS are taught in special classes, which
are maintained in so-caled day camps" on
ferryboats or on the roofs Of institutions.
survey has been recently made by the
Department Of Health in large number of
schools, so that this department might be able
to furnish the New York Open Air Fedora
ton, as we'll as The Globe" Camp, with lists
Of children of this type needing vacations
The nurses of the Department of Health
are constantly visiting the homes Of these
children and instructing the parents as TO
home and personal hygiene; also instructing
them as to the values of various foods and
the manner in which same should be pre-
pared. ..
While it is quite true that much remains
to be done in connection with these anamic
and underfed children, do not feel that the
impression should go abroad that the City OF
New York is doing nothing to correct condi-
tions. The value Of prolonged vacations for
many of these children in open air camps
where limited amount Of instruction could
be given, cannot be disputed; but it remains
for the city government to determine whether
money would be better spent in the manner
suggested by you, or in carrying on the edu-
cation Of these children under present
methods.