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 Hounslow]
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pregnancy, delivery, and the pupils' early
childhood was retrospective in nature. Mothers'
memories can be extremely inaccurate and this
was proved so when facts that they had given me
independently were checked with available health
visitor or hospital records made at the time of the
event. A family history was also carefully
examined but frequently the only details obtained
were again from the child's parents and any
feeling of guilt or shame would naturally lead to
repression of the truth.
Of the 151 children whose histories were
known, ninety-seven were reported to have had
delay in their developmental milestones, that is,
they were not walking unaided or saying
recognisable words bv eighteen months.
Of the remaining fifty-four children whose milestones were said not to be delayed the distribution in social class was as follows—
Class I | 0 |
Class II | 3 |
Class III | 19 |
Class IV | 13 |
Class V | 19 |
Left handed children ie those who write with their
left hand
The number of these children in the school was
thirty-three in 1964 when the survey was started
but in January 1967 was only thirty. Of these
twenty were boys and ten girls. This is the normal
ratio that one gets because it is known that there
are more left handed boys, and more boys who
have reading difficulties.
Home Address | Boys | Girls | |
---|---|---|---|
Hounslow | 53 | 20 | |
Richmond | 17 | 9 | |
North Surrey | 33 | 22 | |
Ealing , . | _ | 2 | |
children in care | |||
Brent | 1 | 1 | |
Total | 104 | 54 |
Social Class | No of children | Expected No of children |
---|---|---|
I | 3 | 3 |
II | 11 | 15 |
III | 57 | 57 |
IV | 39 | 21 |
V | 41 | 12 |
Not known (ie | ||
children in care) | 7 | - |
Total | 158 | 108 |
The expected rate was calculated from the
proportional numbers given in the Registrar
General's statistical publications, and shows the
increased numbers of children belonging to
Social Classes IV and V.
Epilepsy | 4 (plus 11 with history of convulsions) |
Cerebral Palsy | 5 |
Down's Syndrome | 2 |
Phenylketonuria | 1 |
Hypothyroid | 5 |
Hydrocephalic | 2 |
Microcephalic | 2 |