1939-02-04 — Page 3

THE CHINA MAIL, FEBRUARY 1989

Cubary, Supreme Court

NUTRITION COMMITTEE

Aims Discussed At First Meeting

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The first meeting of the reconstituted Nutrition Research Committee was held at Medical Head-

quarters last evening under the Chairmanship of the Director of Medical Services (Hon. Dr. F. S. Selwyn-Clarke).

The following members of the applicable locally, where so large the Commitee were present:- a section of the Chinese population

lives below the poverty line.

His Honour Sir Alasdair Duncan Atholl MacGregor, K.C., Professor Lindsay Tasman. Ride, Mr. Francis Loseby, Dr. Li Tsoo-yiu, Professor William Innes Gerrard, O.B.E., Dr. Foon-yee Catherine Woo, M.B.E., Dr. Agnes Lillias Jenkins Dovey,

There are persons who deny the existence of malnutrition in this Colony.

ONE OUT OF THREE

Kitty

1928, by Belt Byndicate)

12-30

snow

Rotund Rowena allows that as a skier she makes I good plow-since she always takes the course in one broad sweep.

OPPORTUNE MOMENT

the battle was fought for sanitation and preventive medicine, so this generation will fight for proper nutrition.

There is something of inspiration and encouragement in the feeling that. however difficult our task in Hong Kong may be, we are linking up with a world-wide scientific movement promoted in all civilised, countries from which the next generation will derive immense benefit.

PERMANENT SERVICE

We have the great advantage, in this connection, of the important studies carried out under the aus- pices of the League of Nations, by the Rowett Research Institute, by fellow workers in Shanghai (includ- ing Professor Read and Dr. Hou), Pelping and Singapore (including Professor Rosedale) and, lastly and by no means least, by the mem- bers of the original Hong Kong Committee appointed in March, 1937, under the distinguished chair- manship of my friend and col- league Professor Ride of the Uni- versity of Hong Kong.

Our agenda this afternoon is a lengthy one, consequently, it will ---| be necessary to leave many lacunae

in this opening address.

To such, I would suggest that Matters discussed included the they considered for a moment the constitution of committee and fact that more than one baby out terms of reference; appointment of of every three born in 1938 died Secretary; measures for dealing before attaining the age of twelve with known nutrition problems:- months (as compared with one in (a) Dietary survey, (b) Nutrition | nearly twenty in Great Britain for research centre, (c) Investigations the same year); the fact that near- into prevalence of beri beri. etc., |ly five thousand deaths from tuber- (d) Nutrition value of bean curd; culosis were registered in Hong

Permit me, however, to end by the appointment of subcommittees | Kong in 1938; that respiratory dis-

Psychologically, it is an oppor-saying that it is my firm belief that -scientific, sociological, publicity. Feases as a whole occupied firat

tune moment to commence opera- this Committee can and will render place amongst killing diseases; and tions, since the Sino-Japanese con permanent service to the people In his opening address, Dr. P. S. that 2,673 deaths from frank beri flict has given rise to a greater of Hong Kong and to Government Selwyn-Clarke, said:-I should like beri were recorded (to name one social consciousness to take the earliest opportunity of obvious deficiency disease attribut-readiness to give both service and community as its special care.

a greater which has the well-being of the expressing to you all my very warm- able to malnutrition, the unfor- funds for social work. est thanks for your generosity in tunate effects of which are to he consenting to sacrifice your time seen daily in the wards of the hos- (which, I know, is already so fully pitals). taken up with your official and philanthropic activities) and to help me with your intimate acquain- tance with social problems and your special knowledge of the subject to be discussed.

and

Allow me to express once more I think that it would interest my appreciation for the public influence you in members of this committee to know spirit which has

accepting membership of this 'Com- All of us who have had occasion of a statement in the British Medi-mittee at a time which may be, in- to come in contact with destitutes, cal Journal of October last to the deed, a turning point in the history whether in the streets, or, later, effect that, as in the last century of the Colony, in the Government Camps, must have been impressed with the pre- valence of rough skins, sore eyes, pale, anaemic lips and the like in- dicative of a greater or lesser de- With your guidance, I am con-|gree of malnutrition. fident that this Committee should

ECONOMIC FACTORS

be able to make an important con- Our school healths service here tribution to what I have no hesita-has established, in addition, the tion in characterising as a matter of frequency with which dental dis- paramount importance in the health ease occurs in the young. and well-being of the community as a whole and of the vast majority constituting the less fortunate class in particular.

!

COMMITTEE'S TASKS

It might be useful at this junc- If we find ourselves in agreement ture to ask ourselves what is the with Sir Gowland Hopkins who main purpose of this Committee. Its stated that "whatever sum is spent duties are clearly indicated in the is almost always spent on food" terms of reference. and with Dr. McGonigle who main- tains that it is “economical factors

the

Our task is to assortain which control, the situatiion," we actual facts concerning nutrition-- may well be aghast at the magni-and, hence, of malnutriion-as far tude of the problem with which we as lies in our power, and to contrive are confronted. If the above opin- ways in which such knowledge can ions are true for Great Britain, best serve to bring about a more submit that they are all the more

The

For A Natural Wave.

Done the Sommer's Machineless Way

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1

Ahana Beauty Parlor Alexandra Building, Room 5,

2nd floor.

satisfactory state of affairs. manner in which this is to be done. is dépendent upon the advice and guidance you give as members of this Committee.

In some ways we start our work at an exceptionally fortunate time.

True, owing to the refugee pro- blem, there is more overcrowding, more destituiona nd a lower stand- ard of wages than in normal times. On the other hand, we are in the position of being able to make mass observations, collect data, and to carry out experiments in dietetica in the Government Camps which have been established in order to cope with the more serious results of want and destitution.

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