In most of the Belgian towns in the last decade of the nineteenth century voluntary organisations were to be found whose object was to provide food and clothing for poor school children. This provision was made to enable them to attend school instead of begging in the streets, since education was not compulsory.[626] In Brussels the chief society was "Le Progres" Club, which in 1888 commenced the provision of soup dinners in the schools. The Town Council assisted by providing tables and undertaking the carriage of the food to the different centres, and in 1891 by granting a subsidy of 5,000 frs. An application was very soon made for an increase of this subsidy, whereupon the municipality undertook a detailed enquiry into the whole question of the food, clothing, lodging, cleanliness and health of the children in the communal schools. It was found as a result that 16.89 per cent. were badly shod, 25.04 per cent. badly clothed, and 25.55 per cent. insufficiently fed.[627] The work of medical inspection and treatment was very early undertaken by the local authority. At the date of this report (1894), a doctor and dentist were attached to each school; frequent inspections were made by the doctor, and preventive medicine, _e.g._, codliver oil, was provided from public funds.[628] The provision of meals continued to be undertaken by voluntary organisations, aided by a municipal subsidy. In 1903-04, this subsidy amounted to 10,000 frs. for the communal schools, and 5,000 frs. for the clerical schools. In addition large quantities of clothing were supplied from public funds.[629] Footnote 626: London School Board, Report on Underfed Children attending School, 1899, p. 256. Footnote 627: _Ibid._, p. 255; Board of Education, Reports on Educational Subjects, Vol. II., 1898, p. 682. Footnote 628: London School Board, Report on Underfed Children attending School, 1899, p. 256. Footnote 629: _Lancet_ Reports, 1907, pp. 14-15.