The well in Phoenix Park, early 20th century. The park was demolished in the late 1950s
A barefoot boy is lifting his little sister up to drink from the drinking fountain. Behind them some children are sitting with their feet in the water of the ornamental fountain, cooling themselves on a fine summer day. The little girl on the right seems to have rickets, a disease caused by lack of vitamin D. Rickets results in a decrease of bone density and the weakening of the skeleton, most noticeably in the bowing of leg bones. It was a widespread in poorer areas of Glasgow, and was the result of poor diet and an inadequate exposure to sunlight.
In Glasgow, drinking fountains (also known as drinking wells) were installed and maintained by the city's Office of Public Works on behalf of the Public Health Department.
Reference: 840.83.152
Reproduced with the permission of Glasgow City Council, Glasgow Museums
Keywords:
bow legs, cast iron, children, diet, drinking fountains, drinking wells, fountains, girls, malnourishment, Office of Public Works, parks, Phoenix Park, physical disabilities, Public Health Department, rickets, summer, vitamin deficiency
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