Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-07-29
HEALTHY LOOKING
CHILDREN OFTEN
UNDER NOURISHED

New York, July rs. CA. P)-The
malnutrition of children in the United
States constitutes a serious health
Association for Improving the Condi-
ton of the Poor, which for the last
four and half years has been testing
various methods of combating this
evil. Some OF the facts ascertained
from the society's study are included
in statement given out here today.
1t is set forth that among 2lS1 ap-
parently we'll children examined in the
Medical clinics of the society, 636, or
80 per cent, were diagnosed as NAL
nourished. The society is seeking the
most effective methods of correcting
habits of eating or living which cause
malnutrition, and has issued r. mono
graph entitled Food for tho Family"
containing suggestions for proper feed
ing as a means of insuring proper nu-
triton.
This condition OF malnutrition is
not due to insufficient food, but to the
constant use of improperly chosen food
or the inability of the body to make use
of the food eaten because of insufficient
air. rest. sunshine or physical defects.
If these children were in danger from
fire or industrial accidents. the report
OF the society says, every safety de-
vice and preventive measure known
would be urged to protect them. AL
though the effects of malnutrition are
much slower. often much more in
direct and much less dramatic than
those from fire or accidents, they are
even more deplorable because of the
larger number affected and the linger-
ing misery resulting.
Many a wage Garner IS unable to
increase his income to the safety level
because of health conditions due to
poor nutrition. Too many children
who apparently show no signs of dis
ease or malnutrition are allowed to
drift into the wage-earning period with
only a part of their rightful earning
capacity developed.
"Malnutrition thus concerns more
than the individual or the home In
which il occurs. 1t affects the whole
country by reducing the economic pro-
duction Of the individual and thereby
increasing the cost of living. Since
much of the sickness and lowered vi
tality in later hfe is the result Of poor
nutrition, as physicians have frequent
ly stated. the importance of providing
educational guidance in nutrition as
we'll as providing attention for the cor
rection of physical defects is very
great"
To ascertain what are the principal
causes OF malnutrition, the society an
alyzed the condition of 275 families
among those which its nutrition bu-
reau is now assisting. OF that num-
Der, 227 families required instruction
in the preparation OF the proper food;
1873 needed assistance in the planning
of meals: 4e families had to be helped
in marketing, because simple foods, en-
tirely strange to them. were recon-
menced: while special diets had to be
planned for S8 families. Only 27 fam
lilies needed financial assistance to pro-
vide adequate food. Greater economy
was found to be necessary in "A famil-
les. while in 60 families assistance took
the form of helping them to readjust
expenditures.
Indifference. women working and no
one at home to look after the children,
living conditions too congested, result
ing in Inadequate rest and improper
vsntilation: and mother Ill were otheE