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
Heston and Isleworth 1911
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Heston and Isleworth]
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33
VI.—DEFECTIVE, EPILEPTIC, BLIND AND DEAF
CHILDREN.
During the year, the cases of the above children were considered
by me. Each case was medically examined and in
addition information was supplied by the teacher and the parent
or guardian of the child.
(a). Mentally Defective Children.
Definition.—These are children, excluding imbeciles and
those who are merely backward, who are incapable by reason of
mental defects, of receiving proper benefit from the instruction in
the ordinary public elementary schools, but are not incapable by
reason of such defects of receiving benefit from instruction in
special classes or schools.
Powers of Committee.—The Education Committee has power
to establish special classes or schools for such children.
Number.—I have examined 46 children, or 0.7 per cent, of the school population, who have been placed in this category by the teachers and have classified these children as follows:—
| Boys. | Girls. | Total. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Over 14 years of age | 2 | - | 2 |
| *Backward | 9 | 4 | 13 |
| Mentally defectives who will not be able to earn a living under favourable circumstances | 3 | - | 3 |
| Mentally defectives who may be able to earn a living under favourable circumstances | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| Mentally defectives who will be able to earn a living under favourable circumstances | 13 | 10 | 23 |
| Morally defective | 1 | - | 1 |
* In four of these oases the backwardness was due to adenoids, and
in other four due to bad vision, no glasses being provided.
Special Class.—With regard to the children classed as
mentally defectives, who will not be able to earn a living under
favourable circumstances, I do not think it advisable to take any