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
Islington 1969
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Islington Borough]
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These arrangements resulted in a higher than average percentage of mothers attending with their
children, better histories and other necessary details being obtained. It was also possible to do more to ensure
completion of immunisation and dental treatment before the child started school. It was, therefore, agreed
that these two schools could continue to hold pre-sntry medical examinations until further notice.
ROUTINE MEDICAL INSPECTIONS - DEFECTS
Number of children noted for treatment or observation expressed as a rate per 1,000 inspected.
| Treatment | Observation | |
|---|---|---|
| SKIN | 6.30 (5.15) | 13.38 (9.65) |
| EYES (a) Vision | 55.40 (56.22) | 75.37 (66.96) |
| (b) Squint | 4.72 (4.50) | 8.59 (6.02) |
| (c) Other | 1.57 (0.80) | 2.51 (2.10) |
| EARS (a) Hearing | 4.37 (4.64) | 9.45 (6.53) |
| (b) Otitis Media | 1.57 (1.23) | 6.37 (8.13) |
| (c) Other | 0.64 (0.44) | 1.15 (1.60) |
| NOSE AND THROAT | 4.08 (2.83) | 29.63 (30.11) |
| SPEECH | 3.01 (2.76) | 7.01 (6.67) |
| LYMPHATIC GLANDS | 0.36 (0.15) | 13.31 (13.93) |
| HEART | 1.36 (0.94) | 9.59 (8.13) |
| LUNGS | 3.22 (1.52) | 16.61 (12.34) |
| DEVELOPMENT (a) Hernia | 0.79 (0.44) | 4.80 (3.92) |
| (b) Other | 1.29 (0.65) | 7.44 (4.35) |
| ORTHOPAEDIC (a) Posture | 0.79 (0.51) | 9.59 (11.46) |
| (b) Feet | 1.72 (1.89) | 16.32 (11.24) |
| (c) Other | 1.50 (1.52) | 9.66 (6.24) |
| NERVOUS SYSTEM (a) Epilepsy | 0.64 (0.44) | 1.86 (1.74) |
| (b) Others | 0.07 (0.15) | 2.08 (2.03) |
| PSYCHOLOGICAL (a) Development | 0.93 (1 01) | 7.16 (5.22) |
| (b) Stability | 0.93 (1.16) | 11.95 (9.65) |
| ABDOMEN | 0.64 ( - ) | 2.51 (1.01) |
| OTHER | 13.46 (15.16) | 53.46 (41.50) |
SPECIAL MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS
Head teachers also brought before the school doctor any pupil about whose well-being (physical or
mental) the parents, school nurse, care committee or teaching staff were in doubt and pupils whose performance
raised doubts concerning their physical or mental fitness for whom special education treatment might
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