White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1924-07-11
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II PUBLIC HEALTH rs PUBLIC WEALTH
II COMPLIED BY THE
II PUBLIC HEALTH LEAGUE
II OF WASHINGTON
Milk for Health


1t is said that the vigor and success
of a nation depends largely upon the
amount of milk it consumes. In the
United States we use something like
40 billion quarts year, about three
fourths of which amount is made into
cheese, butter and other milk prod
ucts. 1t is a matter Of pride that our
Washington cows have for years been
granted high national prizes.
Milk is rich in the vitamins, and it
is a complete mixed diet in itself. 1t
has the sugar and fat, which, like coal
to the engine, give energy to move the
body; it gives the lime and other min
eral salts necessary for development
of the bones and the teeth; and it con-
tains the albumen (protein) which is
important in making Drawn and
sinew These elements, vitamins,
sugar, mineral salts and protein, are
all necessary in well-balanced diet.
Lack of milk in childs diet is large
ly responsible for the under-nourished
condition called malnutrition, with its
attendant evils and defects.
Malnutrition among children is a
problem which is not confined to any
class or district. In fact, it has been
proven that the children of rich par
ents are frequently its victims, and
that school children in the rural dis
tricts have more physical defects and
are more undernourished and drink
less milk, on an average, than chill
dren in the large cities. A most as
tonishing condition was revealed by a
survey made of Oregon, which showed
that the state average of children not
getting milk in their diet was 80 per
cent, but that the average for the
Portland grade schools was only 20
per cent, the highest percentage be-
ing in the country schools. The per-
centage of non-milk users in one small
town was " per cent. In those schools
in our own state where milk is sup
piled to each child who wishes it, a
distinct improvement is noticed in
CAO AO1AIA VI IAC SuAAulO11 dl1u q uC-
cided increase in mental efficiency is
apparent. 1t is lamentable, and sad
commentary on the viewpoint of those
responsible therefor, that a bill intro
duced in the last legislature which
would have permitted distribution of
milk in the schools Of the smaller dis
tricts was defeated on the grounds of
economy. To deprive our children of
an opportunity to improve health and
mentality is economy of the most ex-
pensive kind.
In one of the public schools in Chi
cago there is group of so-called sub
normal children, to whose develop
ment much time and thought has been
given. But even in this handicapped
group wonderful improvement has
been noted in both health and mental
alertness since each child has been
given pint of milk a day for the
last six months. The milk given them
has changed their whole appearance
and some have SO improved as to en-.
able them to be promoted.
AS an undernourished child begins
to gain in weight, the posture imme
diately becomes better, the hollows in
the chest fill out, the shoulders
straighten. the eyes brighten, the col
or improves and he changes from a
thin, tired, irritable child to a healthy
normal child, with the glow of health
and vigor and an improved disposi
ton.