Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1921-04-27
MISS HENKEL
GIVES VIEWS ON
MALNUTRITION
HER EXPERIENCE IN CHI
CAGO RELATED HERE.

Miss Alma Henkel, daughter of Mrs.
Anna Henkel of this city, has made
Child Welfare and physical develop
ment of the growing child her life
study. Last year she was director OF
physical education in the schools of
Petoskey Mich. At present she is in
Chicago taking further collegiate
work. In the following article Miss
Henkel writes interestingly on prac-
tical phases of the work:
Since the alarming disclosures of
physical unftness of many of Amer
ica's young men to enter the World
war, on account of being under
more attention to the malnutrition
of their children. They realize that
the boys and girls of today are the
fathers and mothers, the citizens Of
tomorrow, and, in order to eXper-
fence the highest degree of mental,
moral and physical efficiency, they
must be properly fed during the
growing period.
The last few years Chicago has
taken preventive steps. Nutrition
classes have been established in the
various hospitals, penny milk sta
lions in the poor districts, nutrition
camps open the year round, and light
lunches and open-air rooms in many
of the public schools.
Possibly the most interesting of
these | have had an opportunity to
visit is the Ardon Shore Nutritional
Camp. Boys, who apply at the Chi
cago Board of Examiners for working
certificates, are sent to the physician
for health examination. Those who
are underweight for height are re-
fused a permit. They have the OPP
portunity of attending camp free, or
upon arriving at the camp they pay
nominal sum if able. The nurses
in charge clip the patients hair and
thoroughly sterilize all clothing.
Pictures are taken at the time of en-
trance and again when the boy
leaves. These are to note improve
cause for malnutrition is determined.
In the order of their Importance
they are as follows: physical defects,
! lack of home control, improper food,
habits, over fatigue, too hard work
or study. Under physical defects
are: bad teeth, infected tonsils, poor
| eyes, nervousness, adenoids and bony
distractions to breathing. These dis
orders need physicians attention
and are Immediately corrected.
| The camp staff presribes the right
| food, hours for rest and exercise, and
proper habits are quickly established.
Charts are made out for every boy at
| the time of entrance. At weekly meet
| ings he is carefully weighed and
measured and allowed to record his
gain in weight and height. The gains
vary from one-half to two pounds
week. Rivalry and interest are so
keen that the strictest regime is
practiced so that no one will eXper-
fence the embarrassment OF recording
loss. When the boys have reached
standard weight for height, they are
! given a health permit and dismissed.
These boys usually continue to gain
in the proper proportion.
| Boys who were recorded unmanage-
able at home are said to have improv-
ed 100 per cent in discipline following
the correction of physical defects.
| The nutrition classes at the hospital
are children of all classes and ages.
They are sent by parents, doctors and
| teachers who have found them to be
| ill-nourished, Z to 10 per cent varia-
/ ton from normal allowed. They are
| grouped in classes according to the
per cent they are under weight
! chart is made out for each child. The
| cause is determined. If a physical
defect, the cooperation Of the child
and parent is sought in removing it.
! Improper food habits, eating Of
wrong food at wrong time, are cor
rected Diets of fresh fruits and veg
etables, cooked cereals, macaroni,
bread, sandwiches, rice eggs, light
buildings, matted milks, cocoa and at
least quart of milk day, are pre-
| scribed Condiments, stimulants,
and meat in large quantities are for
! hidden At least ten hours of sleep,
and rest periods during the day are
advised. The carrying out of this
health program is left entirely to the
| children and parents. The classes
meet once week to be weighed and
measured once a month. If there has
been a loss in weight, the cause is
determined and corrected. Attrac-
tive health diplomas are issued to the
children when they have reached the
! standard.
Many of the Chicago public schools
make special provision for their I'M
der nourished children. They are
given a glass of milk with crackers
or sandwich in the middle of the
1 forenoon. After light, warm lunch
they are bundled up and sent to the
! open air room for an hour of rest.
At the close of school they are given
another glass of milk.
/ Realizing the Importance of milk to
the growing child, charitable socie-
ties support the penny milk stations.
Some are placed near the play
grounds and in the summer many hum
dreds of glasses of milk are sold
daily The milk is sold at one cent a
glass but this does not cover the cost
The ideal system for any commun-
ity, in the interest of its growing boys
and girls, is to teach them proper
health habits in school, the import
! ance of fresh air, exercise, bathing
proper food habits and rest on ply
steal development and health conser
walton, and to instill in them a desir
to be physically fit as a duty to them