RESULT OF A MILK TEST

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 62, 14 March 1934, Page 8

RESULT OF A MILK TEST

(To the Editor.) Sir, —I have read with interest the letter of Secretary Smith in Monday evening's "Post," with reference to the distribution of milk in our primary schools. I cannot , too highly praise this piece of work, for milk is perhaps the most complete food which we have at our disposal todaS". The diets of ■ under-nour-ished children tend to contain too much starch and sugar which cuts . down the amount o£ protein' or body-building material eaten. Their -diet, too, is essentially deficient in the mineral 'substances from- which teeth and bones are made. Milk in sufficient, quantity gives an ample supply of readily-digestible: protein and mineral matter. "Any 'organised effort to supply growing children with milk, therefore, is worthy o£ support. As illustrating the value of milk as a food, the following experiment is of interest:— A Medical Officer of Health noticed that, the children of two schools were definitely under-nourished- and in particular were afflicted with a skin affection (scabies). They/were also evidently below average weight'for-their ages and, according to the headmaster, their progress at studies might have been greater. The test was conducted under the direction of the Medical Officer of Health and the headmaster. Half a pint of milk per day was 'given to the older: children, and one pint to the younger ones, for a period of 14 weeks.; The children of the other school, three miles away, were used as a control. That is .to say, they" were not given milk: The general diet of both groups had always been almost exclusively a starch and sugar one. Here are the results of the experiment at the end of the 14-week period:—The children receiving the milk had gained on an average two and a .half times the weight of the control group of'children. Their increase 'in height; too, was twice that of the controls. The headmaster further maintains that the average intelligence and alertness of the milk-fed children had increased. So impressive Was the.result to the parents that they decided to adopt milk as an essential part of their diet. This gain and improvement, due solely to milk, in such a short period must surely emphasise the value of smilk as. a food. In view of the above, I recommend very strongly that every effort be made to support the Smith Family in'this laudable-ef-fort. —I am,- etc., t BIOCHEMIST. (To. the Editor.) Sir,—Last night .I did: read with interest the appeal of Secretary Smith in the '■Evening Post," and I suppose hundreds more leadeis consider it a pity that we citizens are not able to supply our children with a necessary article of food and to enable them to enjoy their young lives to the full. Now, it is not so much a matter of poverty on the part of the grown-ups. Bather it is carelessness and thoughtlessness that'is to blame. There is plenty of money about for sports, gambling, pleasures of all kinds. May I appeal to the people to deny themselves of some of the luxuries for one month and hand their savings over to Secretary Smith' for the sake of the youngsters.—l am, etc., CITIZEN. March 13;