The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1921-06-03
for benefits received.

for benefits received.
The report of Miss Countryman was
given to the Star-Mirror for publ
cation and in due time was read by
the town and community at large. The
public has also read editorials in the
Star Mirror commenting on the re-
port of Miss Countryman and 1T is
for the latter reason the association
addresses the public, for IT a stranger
to Moscow should chance to read the
editorials referred to he would form
a very erroneous idea of the whole
matter, but those of us who know the
editor have no need to worry. He has
failed to keep in touch with such
matters or to read the numerous re-
ports iminating from the most re-
liable sources as regards the health
of school children. AS the item un-
der the head of 'Malnutrition" was
necessarily made quite prominent in
the report, the editor apparently con-
fused the word 'malnutrition' with
that of starvation with which, In most
cases, it has nothing to do. Children
suffering from malnutrition are not
only much below normal weight for
height but they gain much more slow
ly than they should. At the age of
six to ten years when a healthy child
gains four or five pounds a year they
may gain only one or two pounds, or
even none at all. From twelve to
sixteen years when healthy children
should gain from six to ten pounds
a year they may gain only two or
three pounds.
Children with ~malnutrtion do not
all behave the same way. Some are
pale, dull and ~listless with lark rings
around the. eyes, tire easily and have
ambition for either work or play.
Their work in school is often so poor
that they must frequently repeat
grades. Others are V and fret
hard to please and hard to man
age. They eat and sleep badly. Still
others are over ambitious, constantly
restless, they find 1t difficult
20 concentrate. Children get into a
condition of ma1nutrition because
heir growth is not watched. To grow
height and gain regularly in weight
S just as much a sign of health in a
10Y or girl or nine or ten as in a baby.
Mothers have learned to weigh their
They must also learn that it
S just as important to weigh their
'lder boys and girls. When children
10 not grow or gain regularly in
something is wrong. If these
oys and girls were weighed regular
Y and not be allowed to go on to
erious consequences.
This malnutrition is mentioned
rominently in Miss Country's report
worthy of yerV serious thought
ather than the attitude of mind in
hitch it was apparently considered by
le editor. 1t may be due to many
nd various causes, and such causes
re to be sought for and corrected
hen possible. The nurse could not :
the cause, but informed the par :
It's of the conditions existing, :
aving it to them for consideration. :
few of the causes of malnutritiOn
e here mentioned:
L. Lack of sufficient food. +
2. Getting the wrong kind OF food,
'oils the appetite for simple foods
seded for growth, such as milk, ce- :
ais, and vegetables, by excessive IN
in candy, sweets, and other :
digestible food. L
3. Eating at irregular intervals, :
oiling digestion by cake and trash. z
a. Drinking tea and coffee instead
milk and water. 9
5. Not getting enough sleep. At :
n or eleven years some children do F
t get to bed until ten o'clock or
5er when they should be there at E
yht o'clock with windows open. =
Suffering from constipation. F