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
Tottenham 1962
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Tottenham]
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The following table shows the number of children inspected by years of birth and the classification of their physical conditions:-
| Year of Birth | Number of pupils inspected | Physical Condition of Pupils Inspected | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Satisfactory | Unsatisfactory | ||||
| Number | % | Number | % | ||
| 1958 & later | 350 | 346 | 98.9 | 4 | 1.1 |
| 1957 | 1209 | 1195 | 98.8 | 14 | 1.2 |
| 1956 | 712 | 709 | 99.6 | 3 | 0.4 |
| 1955 | 352 | 346 | 98.3 | 6 | 1.7 |
| 1954 | 1072 | 1066 | 99.4 | 6 | 0.6 |
| 1953 | 624 | 624 | 100.0 | - | - |
| 1952 | 189 | 187 | 98.9 | 2 | 1.1 |
| 1951 | 486 | 483 | 99.4 | 3 | 0.6 |
| 1950 | 1465 | 1457 | 99.5 | 8 | 0.5 |
| 1949 | 620 | 615 | 99.2 | 5 | 0.8 |
| 1948 | 760 | 755 | 99.3 | 5 | 0.7 |
| 1947 & earlier | 2924 | 2903 | 99.3 | 21 | 0.7 |
| Total | 10763 | 10686 | 99.3 | 77 | 0.7 |
There was a fall in the number of children examined and a slight fall in the number
of children of unsatisfactory general condition (0 7%). A child deemed to be of
unsatisfactory general condition is closely observed and any necessary ameliorative
measures taken
It is interesting to note that during 1961 the percentage of "unsatisfactory"
children in the country as a whole ranged between 0% and 4+%. With a percentage of
0 7% this brings Tottenham and Hornsey into the same category as, for example,
Hastings and Leeds, and less than either Norwich or Bristol,
The assessment of unsatisfactory physical conditions must always be the final
estimate of the examining doctors who may differ to such an extent that it would not be
surprising if a change in the medical staff resulted in a different percentage of classified
"unsatisfactory children from year to year The important point to bear in mind,
however is that when a child is deemed to be unsatisfactory, the whole extent of the
medical services is used tobring him to "satisfactory" physical condition.
Infectious Diseases in School Children 1962
An epidemic of rubella (German measles) affected the Area during the first three
quarters of 1962. This was part of an epidemic which affected the whole country.
Rubella is not a notifiable disease and the magnitude of the epidemic came to light
because of the unprecedented demand for gamma-globulin. This is a blood product which
is usedfor protecting the foetus from the congenital abnormalities frequently caused when
the expectant mother contracts the disease during the first three months of pregnancy.