London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

View report page

Edmonton 1912

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Edmonton]

This page requires JavaScript

128
The following are the number and ages of children inspected:—

TABLE II.

Over
Ages567891011121314Total
Boys750180481361822863682283
Girls64621441219426684881850
Total13963948923210442816112484133

The parents were present at 2,372 inspections—at 53.4 per cent.
of the boys' and 62.6 per cent. of the girls' inspections. At the inspections
of the infants of five years of age, they were present at 65.8 per cent.
of the boys' and 67.5 per cent. of the girls' inspections.
There were objections to medical inspection on the part of the
parents of 12 children—6 boys and 6 girls.
The number of re-inspections was 1,539, and the number of
children absent from school owing to disease seen by the School Medical
Inspector was 847.
Arrangements made for following up Children
with Defects.
As I have said, at 2,372 of the inspections, one of the parents, in
almost all cases the mother, was present. In these cases, where any defect
was found, the mother was urged to have it remedied. Apart from the
presence of any defect the few minutes' chat with so many parents is
probably one of the most valuable features of medical inspection. One is
able to give the mother advice, not only as to the remedying of any defects
that are present, but as to the general care of her children, and as to the
essentials of a healthy life. Advice is very often sought by parents as to the
future occupation of the children. Whether the parent is present or not,
instructions as to the remedying of defects are written on a card, together
with the height and weight of the child, and given to her, or sent home
by the child. The cards of children with defects are marked with a
thick line in the left hand top corner, so that these cards can be easily
picked out of the box. A list- of the children with defects that require
treatment is given to the Head Teacher, who is asked to uee his, or her,
influence to obtain treatment. A duplicate list is kept by the Medical
Inspector for reference at a subsequent visit.
At the next visit to the same school, the cards are gone through, the
special cards taken out, and the children seen. If no treatment has been
obtained, a further notice is sent to the parents, or (in special cases) the
School Nurse calls on the parent. The number of children re-inspected
during the year was 760 boys and 769 girls.