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
Hornsey 1961
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hornsey, Borough of]
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Hornsey Tottenham
Primary Schools and Nursery Classes 5860 9068
Nursery Schools - 202
Secondary Modern Schools 2929 5826
Grammar and Technical Schools 1876 2752
Special Schools -
Physically Handicapped - 99
Blanche Nevile School for the Deaf - 96
(including Classes for the
Partially Deaf)
10665 18043
Routine Medical Inspections
The following table shows the number of Hornsey children inspected by years of birth and the classification of their physical condition:-
| Year of Birth | No. of pupils Inspected | Condition Satisfactory | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number | % | ||
| 1957 & later | 115 | 114 | 99.1 |
| 1956 | 427 | 422 | 98.8 |
| 1955 | 184 | 183 | 99.5 |
| 1954 | 139 | 137 | 98.6 |
| 1953 | 540 | 534 | 98.9 |
| 1952 | 662 | 659 | 99.5 |
| 1951 | 83 | 83 | 100.0 |
| 1950 | 178 | 178 | 100.0 |
| 1949 | 525 | 521 | 99.2 |
| 1948 | 276 | 276 | 100.0 |
| 1947 | 341 | 340 | 99.7 |
| 1946 & earlier | 1370 | 1370 | 100.0 |
| Total | 4840 | 4817 | 99.5 |
For the second successive year there was an increase in the
total number of children examined in the area, but in 1961 there was
a small rise (0.4%) in the proportion of pupils deemed to be of
'unsatisfactory' general condition. The term 'unsatisfactory' itself
leaves a lot to be desired, since the assessment cannot be based
entirely on objective criteria, but must to some extent lie in the eyes
of the beholder. Thus, a child might appear thin to one medical
officer, but wiry to another, and be assessed differently in consequence.
It needs reiterating, however, that the terms 'satisfactory' and
'unsatisfactory' apply only to the child's general physique and many a
'satisfactory' child is referred to the appropriate specialist for minor
defects of sight, hearing and posture.
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