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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10
gives a percentage of 11.8. A much lower proportion of probationer scholars was unvaccinated, namely,
47 out of 797, or 5.9 per cent. This indicates an increase in the proportion of unvaccinated children
born in the year 1896 over those born in 1892.
The following table has been compiled from our records "Condition of Vaccination":—
| Year of Birth. | Number Examined. | Unvaccinated. | Percentage Unvaccinated. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1890 | 853 | 40 | 4.6 |
| 1891 | 1,251 | 80 | 6.4 |
| 1892 | 797 | 47 | 5.9 |
| 1894 | 1,758 | 102 | 5.2 |
| 1895 | 2,052 | 201 | 10.2 |
| 1896 | 1,869 | 221 | 11.8 |
The increase in unvaccinated children born in the years 1895 and 1896 may perhaps be connected
with the agitation which preceded the establishment of the conscientious objector.
Special Scholars.—T he heterogeneous mass grouped under this head have not always the same standard of examination:—
| Age. | Number examined. | Number of examinations. | Fit. _ | Vaccination. | Referred back. | Rejected. | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unvaccinated. | No marks. | Cleanliness. | Throat. | Teeth. | Vision. | Sundry. | ||||||||||||||||
| B. | G. | B. | G. | B. | G. | B. | G. | B. | G. | B. | G. | B. | G. | B. | G. | B. | G. | B. | G. | B. | G. | |
| 12 | 19 | 21 | 17 | 2 | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | |||||||||||
| — | – | – | – | — | – | – | – | – | – | – | ||||||||||||
| 13 | 11 | 14 | 7 | 1 | – | – | 2 | 1 | 1 | – | – | |||||||||||
| 2 | 2 | 2 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | ||||||||||||
| 14 | 45 | 52 | 29 | – | 1 | – | 4 | 8 | 2 | – | 2 | |||||||||||
| 66 | 80 | 36 | 4 | – | 8 | 2 | 17 | 5 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||
| 15 | 62 | 73 | 47 | 3 | – | – | 3 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 4 | |||||||||||
| 39 | 44 | 30 | 2 | – | 3 | 1 | 4 | 1 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||
| 16 | 36 | 39 | 31 | 2 | – | – | – | 2 | 3 | – | – | |||||||||||
| 7 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 1 | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | ||||||||||||
| Over 16 | 27 | 32 | 17 | 1 | – | – | – | 1 | 9 | – | – | |||||||||||
| 39 | 39 | 36 | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | 2 | ||||||||||||
| Totals — B. | 200 | 231 | 148 | 9 | 1 | – | 9 | 15 | 21 | 1 | 6 | |||||||||||
| G. | 153 | 172 | 110 | 7 | 1 | 11 | 3 | 22 | 7 | – | 4 | |||||||||||
| Grand Totals | 353 | 403 | 258 | 16 | 2 | 11 | 12 | 37 | 28 | 1 | 10 | |||||||||||
Among the special scholars there were :—
Cripples (age 13—15).—Eleven boys were examined; 3 were cases of hip disease, 1 of amputation
for hip disease, 2 spinal caries, 1 with tuberculous ankle and 2 with infantile palsy. One boy was
rejected as it was found that the hip disease, from which he was suffering, had entirely disappeared.
Ten girls were examined; 4 had tuberculous knees, 2 curvature of the spine, 1 hip disease, 1 club foot,
1 congenital amputation; 1 girl with heart disease was rejected on account of her unfavourable
chances of life.
Blind (age 14—16).—9 boys and 4 girls ; these cases were mostly the result of ophthalmia
neonatorum.
Deaf (age 14—16).—Boys, 4; girls, 6.
Boy Artificers for the Royal Navy (age 15); 19 candidates were examined; 6 were rejected,
5 on account of trifling visual defect and 1, who had passed as a trade scholar, on account of defective
physique.
Trade and Technical Scholars (age 14—15).—71 boys were examined; referred back on
account of teeth 10, vision 6, throat 6, hearing 2. Two mercantile marine scholarship candidates
were rejected on account of vision. 79 girls were examined; noted or referred for want of cleanliness
12, teeth 25, vision 13, throat 5, heart 3, hearing 2, deformities 3, anæmia 11.
Intermediate County Scholars (age 15—16).—44 boys were examined; noted or referred
for want of cleanliness 1, teeth 3, vision 19, throat 4, anæmia 1, heart 1. 13 girls were examined;
referred for teeth 1, vision 3.
Senior County Scholars (age 18—22).—27 men were examined; referred for teeth 1,
defective vision 16, deformities 2, heart 1. 15 women were examined; referred for teeth 1, defective
vision 5.
Midwifery Scholarships.—14 women at ages from 24 to 36 years were examined and 2
were rejected on account, respectively, of suppurating gums and general unsuitability.