SCHOOL FEEDING
1
881 man and woman welcomed his presence among them. Mr. Granville-Barker has had a difficult task in providing an English version which is not a translation, but a real adaptation for the English stage. Just here and there the crisp French epigram has given place I to an English sentence which is not quite so telling, but on the whole the rendering is an exploit. B SCHOOL FEEDING. THOSE interested in food at schools will find in Science Progress (April, 1925, p. 643) a readable I common-sense survey of the subject by Dr. G. E. Friend, medical officer to Christ’s College. Institu- tional dietetics labours under many disadvantages from which the domestic life is free. Fair criticism seems to be hardly possible ; the recipients habitually criticise everything adversely to such a degree that the providers are driven into maintaining even the indefensible positions into which ignorance, careless- ness, and monotony may have led them. It is, too, no doubt true, as Dr. Lyttelton has lately emphasised, that a certain amount of discipline in food is a most desirable part of the training in self-control which every school must of necessity undertake. Here, again, there is the perennial difference of opinion between the pupils and most of the parents on the one hand, and the schoolmaster on the other as to when fair discipline ends and tyranny begins. Dr. Friend is neither pupil nor master, and his testimony is of the more value. With an average age of about 14, he judges that about 3000 or perhaps 3200 calories a day is the right amount, given in three meals at 8, 1, and 6, with a supper snack for the older boys. Work in school before breakfast, and even chapel, he entirely condemns, and holds that breakfast must be a sub- stantial meal-meat, fish or porridge, with jam or marmalade, and unlimited bread and butter. Too short a time is often allowed for meals, and he points out that the smaller boys who get served last are apt to suffer most. Lack of variety and adaptability, bad and slovenly service, and poor cooking are other faults which he mentions. He urges that these defects become less apparent if the whole school -of, say, 500 boys, is served from a central kitchen rather than in separate houses, because really expert superintendence can be secured. Little is said about vitamins. Dr. Friend evidently takes the sensible view that they are apt to be overdone nowadays with some neglect of calories and protein. But he is emphatic that butter must be provided, and not margarine. The known difference is that butter promotes growth and margarine does not ; and this raises one of the many curious questions which have come up in the recent flood of interest in what we eat. It is generally accepted without question that it is wholly desirable that young persons should be grown to the maximum possible size, and that a boy 6 feet high is a better product than one 6 inches shorter- a reasonable build being always premised. Putting aside all but purely materialistic considerations, one wonders what justification there is for this. The youth of to-day certainly provide the most lovely spectacles of big growing boys and girls ; they are a joy to look at, but are they going really to be healthier or more effective citizens than their meagre grand- parents ? They will certainly be more expensive, for they have more to keep up. There is a clinical impression that largely built people stand illness badly; the late influenza was repeatedly reported to be particularly fatal to the hearty and robust, and it is possible that the American insurance companies may find out later on that over-size is as disadvan- tageous as over-weight. Life often seems to last extra long in tiny bodies. But even if small people are healthier, the prestige of size may still encourage the young to grow as much as they can. Small people are often rather touchy on the subject of stature ; so much so that it might be inadvisable to give the stature of some of our greatest people, lest that should be the one of their qualities which they least desire to be broadcasted. THE BRITISH SOCIAL HYGIENE COUNCIL. THE National Council for Combating Venereal Diseases (Incorporated), of 102, Dean-street, Oxford- street, London, W., will henceforth be known as the British Social Hygiene Council. The resolution to effect this change of name was passed at an extra- ordinary general meeting of the Council held on April 6th, and it will be submitted for confirmation at a second meeting of the Council to be held on May 4th. The arguments in favour of this change, as set forth by the Council, are interesting in that they show the progress which has been made in embracing the widest aspects of the venereal diseases problem. The Council consider that the need that originally existed for emphasising the fact that venereal disease was a public health problem is not so acute after the last ten years of propaganda on the subject. The work of the Council during the last two years has extended considerably along preventive lines. This brings the representatives of the Council into touch with many social and educational bodies that are anxious and willing to consider problems relating to the development of self-control and a higher standard of sex conduct among the rising generation. The attainment of a higher standard of sex conduct is essential for the complete elimination of venereal disease, but it is by no means necessary, nor in fact desirable, the Council holds, to give such educational lectures under the title of venereal disease, as the field covered is so much wider, and for this purpose many groups can be reached under the title Social Hygiene that would not be accessible under the old title. The Board of Trade and the Ministry of Health have both notified their approval of the proposed- change to British Social Hygiene Council. In order not to break all links with the past, the Council suggests that the words " lately National Council for Com- bating Venereal Diseases " may be inserted under the new title on certain publications. Thus we may announce the Second Imperial Social Hygiene Con- ference, which is to be held in October at the British Empire Exhibition, Wembley, as organised by the National Council for Combating Venereal Diseases. This conference is the outcome of requests received from overseas, and the whole of three days, from Oct. 5th to 7th, will be given to a discussion of Imperial problems. - THE LETTERS OF GUY PATIN. Dr. F. R. Packard has reprinted with sundry addi- tions the very interesting articles which appeared in "Annals of Medical History," Vol. IV., Nos. 2, 3, and 4. The book is chiefly made up of extracts from Guy Patin’s letters to his various correspondents which give a life-like picture of medical affairs in Paris during the seventeenth century, and it opens with a useful historical résumé of the period, an under- standing of which is necessary for the right apprecia- tion of Patin’s letters. These letters, which were not written for publication, contain the most amusing and often singularly caustic reflections upon his brother physicians, whether individuals or corporations such as the Apothecaries, and also upon statesmen even in the highest places, such as Richelieu or Mazarin. After the fashion of Vergil, who desired his executors to burn the MS. of the Eneid, Patin asked his chief correspondent Spon to burn his letters, but luckily for literature neither request was granted. Among the private and family matters contained in the letters Dr. Packard quotes one letter which is particularly delightful, giving an account of the death of Patin’s mother-in-law. Writing to Spon, he says : " Do not weep much for the death of my mother-in- law, she was not worth it. She was a good woman, rich and avaricious, who feared nothing so much as death, which nevertheless seized her quite suddenly at the 1 Guy Patin and the Medical Profession in Parisin the Seven- teenth Century. By Francis R. Packard, M.D. New York: Paul B. Hoeber. 1925. Pp. 334. $4.
Transcript of SCHOOL FEEDING
881
man and woman welcomed his presence among them.Mr. Granville-Barker has had a difficult task in
providing an English version which is not a translation,but a real adaptation for the English stage. Just here and there the crisp French epigram has given place Ito an English sentence which is not quite so telling, but on the whole the rendering is an exploit. B
SCHOOL FEEDING.
THOSE interested in food at schools will find in Science Progress (April, 1925, p. 643) a readable Icommon-sense survey of the subject by Dr. G. E.Friend, medical officer to Christ’s College. Institu-tional dietetics labours under many disadvantagesfrom which the domestic life is free. Fair criticismseems to be hardly possible ; the recipients habituallycriticise everything adversely to such a degree thatthe providers are driven into maintaining even theindefensible positions into which ignorance, careless-ness, and monotony may have led them. It is, too,no doubt true, as Dr. Lyttelton has lately emphasised,that a certain amount of discipline in food is a mostdesirable part of the training in self-control whichevery school must of necessity undertake. Here,again, there is the perennial difference of opinionbetween the pupils and most of the parents on theone hand, and the schoolmaster on the other as towhen fair discipline ends and tyranny begins. Dr.Friend is neither pupil nor master, and his testimonyis of the more value. With an average age of about14, he judges that about 3000 or perhaps 3200 caloriesa day is the right amount, given in three meals at 8,1, and 6, with a supper snack for the older boys. Workin school before breakfast, and even chapel, he entirelycondemns, and holds that breakfast must be a sub-stantial meal-meat, fish or porridge, with jam ormarmalade, and unlimited bread and butter. Tooshort a time is often allowed for meals, and he pointsout that the smaller boys who get served last are aptto suffer most. Lack of variety and adaptability,bad and slovenly service, and poor cooking are otherfaults which he mentions. He urges that thesedefects become less apparent if the whole school-of, say, 500 boys, is served from a central kitchenrather than in separate houses, because really expertsuperintendence can be secured. Little is said aboutvitamins. Dr. Friend evidently takes the sensibleview that they are apt to be overdone nowadayswith some neglect of calories and protein. But he isemphatic that butter must be provided, and notmargarine. The known difference is that butterpromotes growth and margarine does not ; and thisraises one of the many curious questions which havecome up in the recent flood of interest in what we eat.It is generally accepted without question that it iswholly desirable that young persons should be grownto the maximum possible size, and that a boy 6 feethigh is a better product than one 6 inches shorter-a reasonable build being always premised. Puttingaside all but purely materialistic considerations, onewonders what justification there is for this. The
youth of to-day certainly provide the most lovelyspectacles of big growing boys and girls ; they are ajoy to look at, but are they going really to be healthieror more effective citizens than their meagre grand-parents ? They will certainly be more expensive, forthey have more to keep up. There is a clinicalimpression that largely built people stand illnessbadly; the late influenza was repeatedly reported tobe particularly fatal to the hearty and robust, and itis possible that the American insurance companiesmay find out later on that over-size is as disadvan-tageous as over-weight. Life often seems to last extralong in tiny bodies. But even if small people arehealthier, the prestige of size may still encourage theyoung to grow as much as they can. Small peopleare often rather touchy on the subject of stature ;so much so that it might be inadvisable to give thestature of some of our greatest people, lest that shouldbe the one of their qualities which they least desireto be broadcasted.
THE BRITISH SOCIAL HYGIENE COUNCIL.
THE National Council for Combating VenerealDiseases (Incorporated), of 102, Dean-street, Oxford-street, London, W., will henceforth be known as theBritish Social Hygiene Council. The resolution to
effect this change of name was passed at an extra-ordinary general meeting of the Council held onApril 6th, and it will be submitted for confirmationat a second meeting of the Council to be held onMay 4th. The arguments in favour of this change,as set forth by the Council, are interesting in thatthey show the progress which has been made in
embracing the widest aspects of the venereal diseasesproblem. The Council consider that the need thatoriginally existed for emphasising the fact thatvenereal disease was a public health problem is notso acute after the last ten years of propaganda onthe subject. The work of the Council during thelast two years has extended considerably alongpreventive lines. This brings the representatives ofthe Council into touch with many social andeducational bodies that are anxious and willing toconsider problems relating to the development ofself-control and a higher standard of sex conductamong the rising generation. The attainment ofa higher standard of sex conduct is essential for thecomplete elimination of venereal disease, but it isby no means necessary, nor in fact desirable, theCouncil holds, to give such educational lecturesunder the title of venereal disease, as the field coveredis so much wider, and for this purpose many groupscan be reached under the title Social Hygiene thatwould not be accessible under the old title. TheBoard of Trade and the Ministry of Health haveboth notified their approval of the proposed- changeto British Social Hygiene Council. In order notto break all links with the past, the Council suggeststhat the words " lately National Council for Com-bating Venereal Diseases " may be inserted under thenew title on certain publications. Thus we mayannounce the Second Imperial Social Hygiene Con-ference, which is to be held in October at the BritishEmpire Exhibition, Wembley, as organised by theNational Council for Combating Venereal Diseases.This conference is the outcome of requests receivedfrom overseas, and the whole of three days, fromOct. 5th to 7th, will be given to a discussion ofImperial problems. -
THE LETTERS OF GUY PATIN.
Dr. F. R. Packard has reprinted with sundry addi-tions the very interesting articles which appeared in"Annals of Medical History," Vol. IV., Nos. 2, 3, and 4.The book is chiefly made up of extracts from GuyPatin’s letters to his various correspondents whichgive a life-like picture of medical affairs in Parisduring the seventeenth century, and it opens witha useful historical résumé of the period, an under-standing of which is necessary for the right apprecia-tion of Patin’s letters. These letters, which were notwritten for publication, contain the most amusingand often singularly caustic reflections upon hisbrother physicians, whether individuals or corporationssuch as the Apothecaries, and also upon statesmeneven in the highest places, such as Richelieu orMazarin. After the fashion of Vergil, who desired hisexecutors to burn the MS. of the Eneid, Patin askedhis chief correspondent Spon to burn his letters,but luckily for literature neither request was granted.Among the private and family matters contained inthe letters Dr. Packard quotes one letter which isparticularly delightful, giving an account of the deathof Patin’s mother-in-law. Writing to Spon, he says :" Do not weep much for the death of my mother-in-law, she was not worth it. She was a good woman, richand avaricious, who feared nothing so much as death,which nevertheless seized her quite suddenly at the
1 Guy Patin and the Medical Profession in Parisin the Seven-teenth Century. By Francis R. Packard, M.D. New York:
Paul B. Hoeber. 1925. Pp. 334. $4.
