1969 Volume 35 Issue 2 Pages 53-65
Continued from the previous part. I order to grasp the actual condition of the so-called physically weak children, I made an enquete investigation of the 459 boys and 266 girls in 9 institutions for weak children and pupils in the whole country, , with the following results. 1. The backgroun Of the reasons for entrance into the institutions, 25.5% are under-growth, under-nourishment and anemia, 15.1% are tuberculous disposition, and 15.1% are cold, alimentary disorder, eczema, nettle rash and suppuration. They form the majority of the reasons and nervelessness. As to home circumstances, 29.2% of the children have sickly or somewhat unhealthy mothers. Probably in conseauence of this. 47.7% of them were nourished with artificial milk. Their standard of living is generally low and 57.4% of them are lowest. Their interest in the health of children is little and 37.8% are quite indifferent. 27.4% of the children had been bred in other institutions before they entered the present ones. Thus, many of them have grown in unfortunate circumstances from birth. 2. The features of form. At the time of entrance into the institutions, their height, weight, and girth of the chest are, both male and female, about one year inferior to the national average of the same ages. Especially, they are inferior in the ratio of weight to height. However, one year after entrance, though the value of actual measurement is low, the rate of increase is higher than the national average of all the items in the boys, and also in the girls except height. In view of these results, I find that the management and education of the institutions is perfect and realize how important circumstances are and how great their influence is.
