London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
London County Council 1908
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
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Children were also selected individually from their classes, and reported on as follows :—
| Schools. | External diseases of the eye. | Throat or nose affections. | Ear disease. | Excessive " dirt." | Other defects |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Non-Provided Schools | 532 | 467 | 185 | 25 | 248 |
| Council Schools | 2,002 | 3,086 | 1,064 | 119 | 1,595 |
| Total | 2,534 | 3,553 | 1,249 | 144 | 1,843 |
1st April to 31st December, 1908:—
Conditions Found.
| Schools. | Departments. | Number on Roll. | Numbers examined. | Returned by Teachers. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vision.* | Hearing. | Speech. | P.D. | M.D. | ||||
| Non-Provided Schools | 70 | 11,991 | 1,137 | 116 | 73 | 78 | 116 | 36 |
| Council Schools | 276 | 100,694 | 28,085 | 1,106 | 8Q6 | 789 | 1,670 | 620 |
| Total | 346 | 112,685 | 29,222 | 1,222 | 879 | 867 | 1,786 | 656 |
Treatment Suggested.
| Schools. | Requiring treatment urgently. | Requiring transfer to special school. | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vision.* | Hearing. | Speech. | P.D. | M.D. | Vision.* | Hearing. | Speech. | P.D. | M.D. | |
| Non-Provided Schools | 62 | 51 | 44 | 59 | 14 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 13 |
| Council Schools | 894 | 605 | 538 | 884 | 182 | - | 6 | - | 7 | 122 |
| Total | 956 | 656 | 582 | 943 | 196 | 2 | 10 | 2 | 8 | 135 |
* Apart from vision testing, for which see p. 54.
Children were also selected individually from their classes, and reported on as follows :—
| Schools. | External diseases of the eye. | Throat or nose affections. | Ear disease. | Excessive " dirt." | Other defects. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Non-Provided Schools | 214 | 113 | 62 | 10 | 127 |
| Council Schools | 1,274 | 1,886 | 387 | 152 | 743 |
| Total | 1,488 | 1,999 | 449 | 162 | 870 |
Conditions of the schoolrooms.—Although often far from what is desirable, the hygienic conditions
of the schoolrooms are being gradually improved, and many conditions drawn attention to have
been ameliorated, but, on the other hand, many defects repeatedly noted still exist. The conditions
recorded may be stated in the broadest terms as follows :
1st April, 1907, to 31st March, 1908 :—
| Schools. | Lighting. | Ventilation. | Heating. | Sanitation. | Furniture. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Non-Provided Schools | Good | 57 | 49 | 57 | 54 | 42 |
| Fair | 10 | 10 | 6 | 7 | 7 | |
| Bad | 21 | 14 | 9 | 8 | 26 | |
| Council Schools | Good | 191 | 164 | 144 | 127 | 138 |
| Fair | 16 | 10 | 14 | 10 | 14 | |
| Bad | 52 | 29 | 21 | 13 | 10 |