A Clinical and Biochemical Study of the Subnormal Child.

The subjects discussed in this paper are the results of an inivestigation pr-inmarily undertaken with a view to (letermining as far as possible some of the biochemical factors underlying, and predisposing to, the various forms of nephritis in children and adults. In the course of our investigations, it soon became evident that the problem resolved itself into a study of subnormal health or ' debility,' as predisposing to disease in general ; or, in other words, ilnto a a study of the nature of the soil upon which disease flourishes. In this paper it is proposed t#6 present the results of the investigation in so far as they relate particularly to children. The results of parallel observations on adults are being published elsewhere'. It is hoped too, that some of the results obtainied may form a standard upon which to base further observations on specific diseases as they occur in children, for not a few biochemical data,published as representing the variations peculiar to specific diseases, are in fact alreadly present in that state of subnormal health. This so frequently precedes franik disease that it in part explains the similarity in the findings in diseases wbich are, in their pathogenesis and clinical nature, widely different. Selection of cases.-The children investigated were all of the elementary day-school social class, who attended the medical out-patient departimnelt of one of us (A.A.O.), at Queen Mary's Hospital, for such minor symptoms as headache, lassitude, constipation, and bilious attacks. The actual sympton-s for which advice was sought are given in Table 1. The childreni were all between the ages of six to twelve years inclusive. Those who had recenitly suffered from some acute illness, such as tonsillitis or measles, were not included.