IV 



UNDER-NOURISHMENT IN SCHOOL CHILDREN 



One of the most vital questions, if not the most vital question, con- 

 nected with the problem of municipal milk supply, is the under-nourish- 

 ment of children of school age and under school age. Wonderful dis- 

 coveries made by the leading research workers in the chemistry of foods 

 and nutrition, have shown that during the growing period of children, 

 milk is a vital factor. In other parts of this report appears the testimony 

 of Professor McCollum, emphatically showing that there is no substitute 

 for milk for the growing child. 



The highest legal authorities agree that any action on the part of 

 municipalities to increase their legal powers for the control over municipal 

 milk supplies, must be based, not on economics alone, but on evidence 

 that the health of the people is being injured through the present system 

 of milk supply and distribution. There would be no real reason for the 

 present milk agitation in Rochester or any other cities, if it cannot be 

 demonstrated that public health is being injured. 



In the background of all movements and investigations connected 

 with milk supply, is the idea that children are not receiving all of the milk 

 which they require, and that some damage is being done to their health 

 and welfare because of present conditions in the milk business. 



It is for the above reason that no branch of the milk survey of the 

 City of Rochester is of more importance than the inquiry into the rela- 

 tionship between the milk supply and the nourishment or under-nourish- 

 ment of children. Recognizing this, the directors of the Survey early in 

 the month of August undertook to make arrangements for a systematic 

 examination of school children in Rochester. The program presented to 

 the city authorities at that time was one which called for the determina- 

 tion of the weight and height of all school children and also the securing 

 of information as to their diet, especially with reference to the quantity 

 of milk consumed by them. These plans were presented and approved 

 by the Mayor and the Chairman of the Committee on Public Safety, and 

 the director of the Survey was ordered to proceed with the investigation. 

 The co-operation of the Board of Education was necessary in order to 

 carry out these investigations in the Public Schools. This co-operation 

 was secured arid plans perfected for carrying out this work, when in- 

 formation was received that the Bureau of Health intended to perform a 

 similar investigation of its own. In order to avoid a duplication of effort 

 therefore, and as a matter of courtesy to the Bureau of Health, the 

 directors of the Survey sought the co-operation of the Bureau of Health 

 in carrying out this work. The Health Officer, Doctor Goler, stated how- 



