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
Erith 1939
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Erith]
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6
Provision of Meals, Milk and Malt and Oil.
Milk has been issued on the School Medical Officer's certificate
to 107 children during the year, the issue being two-third
pint bottles per day. In the case of children suffering from a
greater degree of mainourishment, meals have also been
provided.
Below is set out a table showing the quantities of Malt and Oil distributed:—
Total amount issued during the year:
| Erith | 1239 lbs. | |
| Bedonwell | 137 lbs. | |
| 1376 lbs. | ||
| Amount issued free: | ||
| Erith | 1161 lbs. | |
| Bedonwell | 128 lbs. | |
| 1289 lbs. | ||
| No. of children receiving free issues: | ||
| Erith | 148 | |
| Bedonwell | 11 | |
| 159 | ||
| Amount sold at cost price: | ||
| Erith Bedonwell | 78 lbs. 9 lbs. | |
| 87 lbs. | ||
At the end of the year a total of 329 children were receiving
free milk at school.
Twenty-two recommendations were made for free meals
during the year, bringing the total number of children receiving
free meals to 29.
Uncleanliness.
During 1939, 152 children were found to be verminous at
inspections made in the schools by the School Nurses. This
figure shows an increase in number of 12 over that of last year,
but, in fairness to the large proportion of parents whose
children are invariably clean, I must again repeat that the
persistence of this figure is due to a small group of chronic
offenders. Many words and much ink have been expended
probably on this problem of the School Medical Service, and
I am convinced that vigorous action by the Local Authority
is necessary.