Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Report for the year 1914 of the Medical Officer of Health
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of Dr. W. H. Hamer, County Medical Officer of Health and School
Medical Officer. The particulars given are those of defects found among
the "entrant" group of Hampstead elementary school children during
1914. These are children who have just begun school attendance and
are usually about five or six years of age. At this age the examination
of the eyes is limited to the detection of disease; the visual acuityis not
tested. The figures relate to 773 childreu. Of these, there were 288
children or 37 per cent. (147 boys and 141 girls) in whom no defect was
noted by the doctor, leaving 485 children or 63 per cent. (239 boys and
246 girls) of whom this could not be said. The number of children
referred for medical treatment was 241 or 31 per cent. (130 boys and
111 girls.)
Defects noted at Physical examinations of Entrant Group of
Elementary School Children.
Number examined: Boys 386, Girls 387.
defect. | boys. | girls. | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
No. of cases where defect was noted. | No. of cases referred for medical treatment. | No. of cases where defect was noted. | No. of cases referred for medical treatment. | |
Skin diseases | 11 | 6 | 2 | |
Defective teeth | 156 | 71 | 173 | 72 |
Tonsils enlarged | 44 | 33 | 48 | 27 |
Adenoid growths | 27 | 21 | ||
Others defects of Nose or Throat | 9 | 2 | 9 | 2 |
Cervical orsub-maxillary glands enlarged | 16 | 6 | 16 | 3 |
Eye diseases | 15 | 11 | 8 | 4 |
Ear disease | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
Defective hearing | 1 | — | 2 | 1 |
Speech defects | 3 | — | 3 | — |
Heart disease or defect | 8 | — | 6 | — |
Anaemia | 6 | 2 | 5 | 2 |
Lung complaints | 15 | 5 | 18 | 4 |
Nervous diseases | 5 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
Phthisis | — | — | — | — |
Other tubercular disease | 2 | — | 1 | — |
Rickets | 5 | 1 | 8 | 2 |
Deformities | 2 | — | 5 | 2 |
Malnutrition | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 |
Other defects (including digestive complaints, urinary diseases, hernia, etc.) | 13 | 4 | 11 | 4 |