The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-08-03
Child HEALTH
CAMP BATTLES
MALNUT
Intended as Demonstration
of Possibilities in
Rebuilding.
This is the second of several articles
upon child nutrition.
BY WALTER S. GREENOUGH

This is the second OF several articles
upon child nutrition.
BY WALTER S. GREENOUGH
A discussion of m alnutrition
among children, issued by The Chill
dren's Bureau, United States De-
partment of Labor, was ca. phasized
today by executives of the new child
nutrition camp at Bridgeport as
monthly study by all parents.
The program of the new child nu-
triton camp at Bridgeport of the
Marion County tuberculosis Asso-
citation is designed during the sum-
ner months to eliminate malnutri-
ton in individual children and build
them back to sturdy health. Miss
Flora A. butcher, educational secre-
tary of the Marion County Tuber-
3ulosis Association, one of the eXecu-
tives at the nutrition camp, pointed
out that the camp is being conduct
ed by the Marion County Tubercu-
losis Association as a demonstration
in the rebuilding of child health
and that the association hopes that
the e m on S n a t. o n among tina
twenty-five children at the camp
will be studied by parents with a
view to applying similar principles
in the home during summer months.
Build Disease Resistance
Investigation among many schools
of the city has shown that approx
imately one third of all school chill
dren are underweight for their
height and age. The child nutrition
classes carried. on by the public
school authorities and the child nu-
triton camp at Bridgeport were
designed primarily to show parents
of other children in the community
what might be done in building up
resistance of their children against
disease by instructing them in the
Importance of a carefully regulated
diet, elimination of much excitement
caused by parties and other things,
proper rest periods and enough sleep
each day and night.
Progress has been made for the
past two or three years in the educa-
ton Of many parents in Indianapo-
lis and Marion County in the newer
methods of disease prevention
among children. Building child re-
sistance to a point where it can
throw off disease easily is the nut
of the whole matter, Miss butcher
says. Miss butcher quoted Lydia j.
Roberts in her discussion of MANU-
triton, prepared and issued by the
Children's Bureau.
MaInutrition Insidious
"Malnutrition in children is wide
spread in the United States; in
some communities it is so common
that it is scarcely recognized as an
abnormal condition." the bulletin
points out.
ITO combat malnutrition it is first
necessary to recognize ito dis
tingrlish between the well-nourished
child and the malnourished child.
What is malnutrition? Is it an in
fictitious disease like measles or
whooping cough, which runs its
course and then is over? Unfor-
tunately not; nor is it disease ikS
govt or rheumatism which causes
sufficient pain to demand attention
and treatment.
cit is, in fact, not a disease at all,
but "a low condition of health and
body substance It is measurable
not only by height and weight and
robustness, but by many other signs
and symptoms.
"a poorly noUriShed child
is usually thin, but he may be fat
and flabby. His skin may have a
pale, delicate, waxlike look or it
may be muddy or even pasty or
earthly. Usually blue circles or dark
holl0Ws are under his eyes and the
mucous membrane inside his eyelids
is pale and colorleSs. His hair may
be rough, like that of a poorly
cared for farm animal, his tongue
coated and his bowels constipated.
Lacks Vigor
His skin seems loose, his flesh is
fabby, and his muscles are I'M
developed. Because Of lack of
muscular tone his shoulders are
usually rounded, the shoulder blades
sometimes standing out to such an
extent as to produce the deformity
known as wings" his chest is fiat
and narrow; his abdomen protrudes.
His teeth may be decayed, and he
may have enlarged or diseased
tOnSi1S and adenOidS
The animal spirits natural to all
healthy young are likely to be lack
ing in the malnourished child; he
may be listless at play and work;
not caring to romp and play like
other children; he is likely to tire
easily; and he may be regarded as
lazy. He is likely to lack mental
vigor also-to have little power OF
concentration and attention. He may
be nervous, restless, and fidgety; and
he will probably sleep lightly and be
flnicky about his food. The only
sure way to decide whether a child
is malnourished is to have him eX-
amined by a physician, who takes
into consideration all the signs that
,ooa1, yoOi,,+ RI M q nutrition 3"