The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1920-01-15
>THE w0MAN's CLUB

SpcclallSt OF tne bnllufenS Durcuu
o. the United States.
She and her three co-workers, in
response 10 an invitation from DR..
Mccormack, Secretary Of the State
Board Of Health, have been making
a nutrition survey Of children from
two 10 twelve years Of age in the
rural homes about Berea.
For fifty years, Miss Roberts told
us, the United States government
has been studying cattle, how 20
house. feed and breed them in order
TO produce the best cattle possible.
Eight years ago the idea that chill
dren were possibly Of as much value
as cattle, and that TO learn how they
should be housed fed and bred
would be worth while, was borne
in upon the minds Of some OF our
national Congressman and the Chill
dren's Bureau Of the United States
was formed. with Miss Julia Lath-
rop, Of Chicago, as its head. This
survey now being made just out
side Of Berea is the first nutrition
survey ever made by the Children's
Bureau. We have reason 10 con-
graduate ourselves that the Bureau
chose out Of the whole United
States region in Kentucky, in
Madison County. and in the vicinity
Of Berca for this interesting and
TO us very valuable study, II we
choose 10 make IL so.
A nutrition survey, Miss Roberts
told us, is for the purpose Of learn
ing:
First: Whether the physical con-
dition of the children is good or
bad. Second: To find the causes
lying back Of the conditions re-
vealed. Following The work Of these
expert surveyors there will come,
This week. into the district sur
veyed the "Child Welfare Special
Of the Children's Bureau, large
auto carrying physician a
| trained nurse. a heated examining
room and apparatus for examina-
tions. The physician, DR.. Bradley,
ran three such vans in France dur
iEg the war. He will give free ex-
aminations 10, these rural children
whom the surveyors have visited
After that work is done, the "Spe-
cial' will come into the town pi
Berea, where free examinations will
be given. Details of this will be
given later. MalnutritiOn has long
been a problem in the United States
Miss Roberts said. Nutrition sur
veys, made by other agencies in
various places, among them New
York City and Chicago. have shown
alarming health conditions among
children. Large numbers of then
were under-nOurished- % TO 500
rot only among the poor and ignor-
ant but among people who were wei
10 do. wealthy and of intelligence
above the average. A physically
perfect child is hard TO find. W.
were shocked in this country wher
we learned that one ut Of every
three Of our yourg ncn was unfl
10 go TO war hecarsr of physica
disability.
Health is not a matter Of p. owl.
dence. II is a mater Of proper
rearing. II is possible TO hlv'
healthy children.
First: We musi want health,
children.
The price means self-sacriflce ~
the part of parents. We must lear
what kinds Of food 10 plant or blu,
and cook. in order TO build W
healthy tissues, bone, muscles, fat
nerve and brain. We must learr
|, how TO cook the food so that IL il
easily digested. We must be stronl
willed enough 10 insist that our
children eat this food only at reg.
u'ar intervals and TO deny them The
between-meal lunch of sweets.
Long hours Of sleep are as neces-
sary for the nourishment Of the
child's body as proper food. I'VE
must be willing TO deprive ourselves
Of evening entertainments and ever
Of church services, il need be, tha
the children may have abundance
of sleep. Late going TO bed and
very early rising invariably make
frail children. nor can this lack in
childhood be compensated for in
later life. We must he willing Ia
60 TO the trouble and expense OF
having a thorough physical exami-
nation of each of our children al
least once year.
These and many other things
Miss Roberts told us in most in
teresting fashion. Her description
Of our country Astounding in i'll
nOurished children, and her plea
fau a orananaIi.. - ..on a