London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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London County Council 1920

Annual report of the Council, 1920. Vol. III. Public Health

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Epileptics—Boys.Girls.Total.
Attending public elementary schools379398777
Attending special M.D. schools6653119
Attending special P.D. schools12921
Attending blind schools-11
Attending deaf schools123
Attending certified schools for epileptics563692
Not at school (b)279251530
Imbeciles or idiots (c)246224470
Physically defective—
Pulmonary Tuberculosis.
*Attending public elementary schools (d).300306606
Attending certified day schools for physically defective children (day open air schools for tuberculous children)210130340
Attending certified residential schools for physically defective children7581156
In institutions other than certified schools308311619
Not at school (b)156199355
Crippling due to tuberculosis.
Attending public elementary schools (d)6455521,197
Attending certified day schools for physically defective children5734751,048
Attending certified residential schools for physically defective children5546101
In institutions other than certified schools391361752
Not at school (b)126114240
Crippling due to causes other than tuberculosis i.e., paralysis, rickets, traumatism.
Attending public elementary schools (d)1,8182,3884,206
Attending certified day schools for physically defective children1,0018011,802
Attending certified residential schools for physically defective children11415
In institutions other than certified schools150112262
Not at school (b)9498192
Crippling due to heart disease—
Attending public elementary schools (d)5916301,221
Attending certified day schools for physicallv defective children390508898
Attending certified residential schools for physically defective children---
In institutions other than certified schools11. 1425
Not at school (b)79152231
Other physical defectives, e.g., delicate and other children suitable for admission to open-air schools
Attending public elementary schools (d)8,4697,97716,446
Attending certified day schools for physically defective children7868146
Attending certified residential schools for physically defective children12-12
In institutions other than certified schools151530
Attending open air schools195125320
Attending playground classes1,2001,9003,100
Attending certified holiday camps (e)
Bushy2,700-2,700
Margate-192192
Not at school (b)6339161,549
Dull or Backward—
Retarded 2 years10,0719,13519,206
Retarded 3 years7627981,560

* Suspected pulmonary tuberculosis.
(а) These figures refer to cases of partial blindness and partial deafness.
(b) The number "not at school" includes children permanently disabled, certified as unfit to attend school
for various periods, in the country, etc. Many are in attendance at other institutions, such as hospitals, or in the
care of the Metropolitan Asylums Board.
(c) Feebleminded children, imbeciles and idiots. This includes certain children who have been transferred
to institutions outside the County and also some under school age. There are 1,021 boys and 770 girls in the institutions
of the Metropolitan Asylums Board who are mentally defective and under 16 years of age. These numbers
to some extent but not entirely overlap the figures quoted under the heading "not at school." A certain number have
been dealt with under the Mental Deficiency Act; others are under the care of the Metropolitan Asylums Board as
the Poor Law Authority.
(d) The figures of the physically defectives in the ordinary schools are made up from the returns of three
years routine inspection and may include certain cases which also come under other categories. The greater number of
these cases would not be in any way certifiable as defective in the terms of the Elementary Education (Defective and
Epileptic Children) Acts, 1899 and 1914, the crippling not being of such an extent as to interfere with ordinary
education. At the last scheduling of the number of children who had been certified as suitable for admission to P.D.
schools only 34 cases were in attendance at ordinary schools.
(e) The figures refer to the number of children passed through the camps during the year (accommodation
31.12.20, Bushy 300, Margate 64.)