London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
London County Council 1933
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
This page requires JavaScript
| London—with scholarships | 23 |
| without „ | 24 |
| Elsewhere—with scholarships | 1 |
| without „ | 10 |
The physique of the majority of these children is good. They are healthy and well developed,
and many are over the average height and weight for their age. It is noticeable, however, thar
slight postural defects are not uncommon among them (8 percent.). Dental decay is comparatively
rare (11 per cent.) and other defects are conspicuously absent.
Their nutritional classification is shown in the following table, in which the usual standards have been adopted (1 = excellent; 2 = satisfactory ; 3 — sub-normal, but not greatly so 4 = grossly ill-nourished):—
| Classification. | Total. | Group 1. | Group 2. | Group 3. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number. | Percentage. | Number. | Percentage. | Number. | Percentage. | ||
| Boys from elementary schools | 57 | 23 | 40 | 31 | 55 | 3 | 5 |
| Others | 43 | 22 | 51 | 19 | 44 | 2 | 5 |
| Whole series | 100 | 45 | 45 | 50 | 50 | 5 | 5 |
This table shows that the general standard is high, and that there is no material difference
between those who have been to elementary schools and those who have not. The proportion
classed 1 (excellent) is remarkable. Only 5 boys are subnormal and none of these is severely
affected. There was no boy classified in group 4.
These subnormal children may be considered in greater detail. Of these boys, one is 10
years, one 12 years and three are 13 years of age. The fact that four out of five of them are 12-13
years old suggests that puberty may be a determining factor, but as 65 per cent, of the boys
seen are of these ages, the point cannot be pressed.
Three of the children have been to elementary schools, and two have not. Three have a
previous record of malnutrition, of whom two have been to private schools and their families'
circumstances are described as " good," and one has been to an elementary school and has a
" free place." This last boy comes from a very poor home, and is having free dinners and a
clothing grant. His father is a clerk who has been out of work for three years. Both of the
other two subnormal children have " satisfactory " homes.
It is interesting to compare the present state ot this group of children with their condition last year, as recorded by another observer.
| Year. | Group 1. | Group 2. | Group 3. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1932 | 48 | 43 | 9 |
| 1933 | 45 | 50 | 5 |
The high standard of fitness of the majority is evidently no new thing, for there is a close
agreement between the figures in group 1 (nutrition excellent). The number of boys judged to
be poorly nourished has fallen since 1932. Apart from the possibility of a difference of opinion
between the two examiners, the alteration is accounted for in the following way. Six of the
boys noted in 1932 have improved, and are now normal. The other three are still poorly
nourished, and to them have now been added two boys whose condition seems to have deteriorated.
Further comparisons may be made :—
(1) As a control to this inquiry, the records of the last 100 boys examined this year in
another secondary school have been reviewed, and it has been found that 4 per cent, of them
are ill nourished. The proportion in the present series (5 per cent.) is therefore not exceptionally
low.
(2) Comparison between such a small group of children and elementary and secondary
schools in general is not strictly justifiable, but serves to give a rough idea of the position.
Boys examined at
Year.
Ages.
Percentage in
Group 1. Group 2. Group 3.
This inquiry 1933 8 to 14 years 45 0 50.0 5.0
Elementary schools 1932 „ „ 19.1 75.8 5.1
Secondary schools 1932 All ages 14.9 77.9 7.2
,, ,, 1931 „ „ 17.2 78.1 4.7