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

Kensington 1938

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington Borough]

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Table: Table showing the conditions in regard to clothing, nutrition, cleanliness, teeth and vision of the children examined.

Table showing the conditions in regard to clothing, nutrition, cleanliness, teeth and vision of the children examined.

Age Groups.Number examined.Clothing and boots.Nutrition.Cleanliness of head.Cleanliness of body.Teeth.Vision.
Good.Fair.Poor.Good.Average.Below normal.Bad.Clean.Nits.Pediculi.Clean.Dirty.Pediculi.All sound.Less than 4 decayed.Four or more decayed.6/6 in both eyes.6/9 in either or both eyes.6/12 or worse in either or both eyes.
Entrants
Boys69723046251784793916961—6952—38923474———
Girls697212480516749436—690436933140421677———
Age 7.
Boys611127481398463491611——6101—3601886332819373
Girls595148444313742533—59125932—3491806631020470
Age 11
Boys579153423311343234—5781—57621362189284199664
Girls586170414213342726—582225842—4071641536413587
Age 14
Boys557128428115038720—-5543—5561—337204163798392
Girls510171337212436718150442510——31218993388686
Total4.8321,3393,469241,1003,47425534,8061794,8171322,9201,5643482,138797472
Percentage27.771.80.522.771.95.30.199 50.30.299.70.30.160.432.47.262.823.413.8
London54.645.10.316.277.26.697.72.00.398.71.20.170.226.33.567.819.013.2

Table: Vaccination- There were 2,302 births in 1937 reported to the vaccination officer by the Kensington registrars- By the 31st December, 1938, 58.17 per cent. of these had been vaccinated or were insusceptible to vaccination- The other 41.83 per cent, are accounted for as follows:—

Vaccination- There were 2,302 births in 1937 reported to the vaccination officer by the Kensington registrars- By the 31st December, 1938, 58.17 per cent. of these had been vaccinated or were insusceptible to vaccination- The other 41.83 per cent, are accounted for as follows:—

Statutory declarations of objection12.90 per cent.
Died before vaccination6.26 „
Referred to other districts14.39 „
Removed, leaving no trace7.94
Postponed or unaccounted for0.34

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(In addition, by the 31st December, 1938, 340 certificates of successful vaccination had been
received in respect of children living in Kensington who were born outside the borough during 1937-)
In view of the fact that throughout the country generally only about 35 per cent. of the children
born are vaccinated, the Kensington return must be regarded as extremely satisfactory- Only
13.24 per cent. of the children born in Kensington in 1937 remained in the borough unvaccinated.
Whilst this high percentage of vaccinations is maintained Kensington is reasonably safe from
smallpox.
Health Propaganda-
In December, 1937, the health lecturer who had for some thirteen years been employed by the
council to carry out propaganda work resigned. This officer had been employed part-time only,
but the council decided after careful consideration that the vacancy should be filled by a whole-time
official- The newly appointed officer did not commence her duties until July of the following year,
and the health propaganda work was carried out in the interval by various other officers of the
public health department-
The National Health Campaign, which was inaugurated by the Prime Minister in September,
1937, continued during the first three months of 1938. During the whole period of the campaign,
large and small posters were displayed throughout the borough on hoardings and public buildings,
and in welfare centres, shops, etc- Attractive leaflets were distributed to the public, and appropriately
worded bookmarks were given out with public and private library books.
In addition to the above, posters dealing with various aspects of public health were displayed
throughout the year on the eleven frames owned by the council and which originally belonged to the
Empire Marketing Board.
There is little doubt that this intensive campaign did much to stimulate public interest in the
council's health services.
The borough council's campaign, instituted in 1936 with a view to decreasing the infant mortality
from enteritis, again operated during the summer months, when posters and leaflets were displayed
on public buildings, at infant welfare centres and on the council's vehicles, sandbins, etc. Leaflets
were supplied to the county council schools, and these were distributed to school-children.