East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1921-11-15
FIVE MILLION CHILDREN
GET IMPROPER DIET

NEW YORK, Nov. 15.-(l. n. 81
Over 6, 5,OO0, 900 school children in the
United States are suffering from mall
nutrition, according to a bulletin is
sued by the National tuberculosis As
sociation recently. Malnutrition when
carried far enough becomes plain star
walton. The vast majority of these
millions of little ones are malnourished
as a result. not of insufficient food, but
of improper food.
To relieve the situation plan for
instructmg the children in correct
health habits has been diversed by the
National tuberculosis Association in
cooperation with DIR. w. r. 2. Emer-
son, Of Boston, the nutrition expert,
and will be inaugurated in schools
throughout the country as soon as
possible,
The plan will by no means be an ex-
pertinent, since 1t will follow the lines
of the Modern Health Crusade, in
which over 5000, 600 school children of
normal weight are now enrolled. In
determining what children should be
| classified as malnourished Dr. Emer-
! son has decided, as a result of long
study and careful observation, that a
child more than per cent under nor
NAL weight for his age and height is
clearly suffering from malnutrition.
1t is on this basis that the estimate of
5000 900 little ones of school age suf-
fering from insufficient nourishment
in this country has been made.
In the plan specially prepared for
the benefit of the malnourished chill
dren each child will be required,
through his teacher and parents, to
keep "chore record" card This card,
which is to be submitted at regular in
tervas to the teacher, indicates the
performance of the following health
chores, particularly adapted to the re-
quirements of children suffering from
manutrition:
/. 7 was weighted this week on the
day checked (X).
2. Besides good breakfast and the
noon and evening meals, | ate mid
morning and afternoon lunches, as di-
rected
3. | ate only wholesome food today,
including vegetables, fruit, and drank
at least a pint of milk, as directed,
and tried always TO eat and drink
slowly.
4. | drank four glasses of water,
some before each meal, and drank no
tea, coffee nor any injurious drinks.
5. went to the toilet at my regular
time.
6, ] was in bed last night ten or
more hours, as directed; windows
open.
I. rested lying down not less than
twenty-five minutes both this forenoon
: and this afternoon.
8. l played in the fresh air, to day.
exercising for the time and in the way
directed.
9. ] washed by hands before each
meal today
10. l brushed by teeth thoroughly
after breakfast and after the evening
meal.
II. took full bath on each of the
days of the week that is checked (x).
The chore records will also supply a
, table showing the normal weight that
the child should have. His actual
weight and normal weight will both
be plotted on the chart on curves. so
that children and parents can graphi-
cally picture the change in physical
condition.
By doing the eleven chores faith
fully four periods of not less than five,
ten or fifteen weeks the child becomes
a squire, knight or knight banneret
and is entitled to wear the insignia of
the Modern Health Crusade. When he
gains normal weight he may earn ad-
vanced honors by performing stand
ard Modern Health Crusade chores
and be admitted to the Health Round
Table through physical fitness tests.
With these chOre records will be
supplied information on nutrition
clinics and nutrition classes for the
training of children and mothers. IA
malnourished child is an easy subject
for tuberculosis" says DR.. Charles ].
Hatfield, in the National tuberculosis
Association. I'VE shall try by means
of these special chore records and with
the cooperation of our State and local
tuberculosis associations to bring as
many of the millions of malnourished
children as possible up to a proper
standard of health, so that they may
better resist the onslaughts of tuber-
| culOsis."