Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
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13
Each of the schools for physically defective children is visited at least once a month, and each
of the residential schools once in three months by the Medical Officer. The visits to ordinary schools
have been at irregular intervals. Arrangements have now been made for a nurse to visit each school
at least once a month.
TRAINING COLLEGES, PUPIL TEACHERS' CENTRES AND
SECONDARY SCHOOLS.
During the half-year ending 31st March, 1908, the colleges, centres, and secondary schools have been visited, and a large number of the students carefully examined, a card register being established.
With regard to the physical defects noted below:—
Institutions. | Numbers. | DEFECTS. | ||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Number of Visits. | Number on Roll. | Number examined. | Throats. | Backs. | Heart. | Glands. | Anæmia. | Malnutrition | Teeth-defective. | Lack of Cleanliness. | Ears. | Speech. | Vision. | |||
Round. | Curvature. | Lungs. | ||||||||||||||
25 | 320 | 320 | 9 | 59 | 30 | 12 | – | 76 | 29 | 119 | 3 | 7 | 15 | 80 | ||
Clapham Day | 1½ | 160 | 160 | 1 | 24 | 10 | -- | 15 | — | 37 | 2 | 62 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 32 |
Greystoke-place | 24½ | 149 | 228 | 3 | 30 | 24 | — | 4 | - | 49 | 11 | 82 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 57 |
London Day | 41 | 143 | 140 | 16 | 12 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 17 | 3 | 66 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 35 |
Islington Day | 250 | 253 | 17 | 14 | 13 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 37 | 17 | 121 | 2 | – | 4 | 54 | |
6½ | 206 | 99 | 4 | 26 | 3 | 1 | – | 14 | 5 | 42 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 24 | ||
Chelsea | 8½ | 256 | 165 | 1 | 39 | 15 | 1? | - | 1 | 33 | 12 | 56 | — | 1 | 7 | 50 |
Deptford | 10 | 220 | 118 | 2 | 27 | 8 | - | 1 | — | 25 | 12 | 42 | — | 2 | 4 | 34 |
Hackney | 9 | 175 | 178 | 22 | 53 | 29 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 23 | 4 | 86 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 31 |
Mile End | 6 | 128 | 110 | 9 | 20 | 10 | — | - | - | 8 | 3 | 54 | 4 | 1 | – | 20 |
Stepney | 6 | 125 | 103 | 8 | 28 | 10 | - | 2 | - | 22 | 8 | 46 | 4 | 3 | – | 20 |
Woolwich | 71½ | 150 | 85 | 3 | 8 | 6 | - | 2 | – | 15 | 9 | 35 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 19 |
14 | 140 | 121 | 10 | 34 | 20 | 1? | 3 | 3 | 15 | 22 | 31 | 3 | 4 | 14 | 30 | |
Fulham | 19½ | 256 | 247 | 28 | 51 | 32 | – | 5 | 7 | 22 | 21 | 71 | 9 | 10 | 25 | 68 |
Hackney | 20 | 220 | 265 | 77 | 52 | 42 | 1? | 8 | 17 | 45 | 37 | 131 | 52 | 10 | 4 | 40 |
Kentish Town | 26 | 309 | 309 | 51 | 45 | 48 | – | 9 | – | 50 | 35 | 137 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 59 |
Kingsland | 20 | 245 | 244 | 61 | 45 | 54 | – | 15 | 5 | 37 | 18 | 107 | 31 | 13 | 4 | 44 |
Manor Mount | 11 | 120 | 115 | 5 | 23 | 14 | – | 4 | 1 | 24 | 12 | 3 | 36 | 3 | 10 | 11 |
Paddington | 17 | 143 | 145 | 28 | 29 | 10 | – | 11 | 3 | 21 | 20 | 78 | 17 | 4 | 7 | 28 |
Peckham | 29 | 240 | 265 | 21 | 59 | 33 | – | 3 | 4 | 46 | 15 | 78 | 29 | 7 | 18 | 70 |
St. Pancras | 7 | 80 | 79 | 15 | 19 | 7 | 1? | 2 | 2 | 9 | 7 | 34 | 9 | 5 | – | 13 |
Southwark | 17 | 135 | 164 | 30 | 25 | 33 | – | 5 | 1 | 24 | 28 | 68 | 22 | 3 | 1 | 38 |
Stockwell | 19½ | 293 | 321 | 18 | 55 | 43 | – | 18 | 7 | 45 | 11 | 123 | 18 | 13 | 6 | 123 |
Sydenham | 16 | 150 | 158 | 12 | 24 | 24 | – | 2 | 4 | 21 | 16 | 41 | 9 | 8 | 5 | 49 |
Wandsworth | 5 | 89 | 78 | 29 | 22 | 9 | – | 1 | 1 | 6 | 10 | 39 | 9 | 2 | – | 20 |
Lungs.—Three students were rejected for phthisis.
Backs.—The women doctors called attention to the carrying of heavy books as a factor in causing
round backs or curvature in those thus predisposed. The contents of book bags were found sometimes
to weigh 7 or 8 pounds. The provision of additional lockers at school is recommended ; this is
especially wanted in schools like Paddington and St. Pancras, which are also used for evening classes.
Hearts.—About half of the students noted with defect of the heart showed actual organic disease.
In each case games or exercises were regulated as required.
Personal hygiene.—In spite of strenuous efforts on the part of the mistresses, a large percentage
of the pupils still show a want of cleanliness. In many cases lectures dealing specially with personal
hygiene have been given by the teachers in consequence of the medical examinations.
Teeth.—All cases presenting caries were noted, and the percentage appears large. There is a
very decided improvement in the routine use of the toothbrush. At the Peckham school the headmistress
has arranged with a dentist to attend systematically to the teeth of the children owing to the
difficulty of obtaining suitable treatment.
General remarks.—It would be a good plan if the general supervision of health, as well as
the organisation of games and exercises, were definitely committed to the drill mistresses. In some of
the schools, notably Hackney, Kentish Town and Paddington, the sanitary arrangements
are very defective. On re-examining the girls it is found that a very considerable number have taken
steps to remedy defects, and often with gratifying results. It is found to be very difficult to make
the girls realise the need for a sufficiency of sleep. This is the case in the schools, but particularly in
the Pupil Teachers' Centres, where there is little attempt to limit the time spent on homework.