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
London County Council 1902
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
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| Age 13. | Age 14. | Age 15. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total number examined | 2 | 11 | 15 | |||
| Maximum height | ft. | in. | ft. | in. | ft. | in. |
| 5 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | |
| Minimum | 5 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| Average „ | 5 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 2 |
| Number 10 per cent, above average | - | - | - | |||
| - | - | - | ||||
| „ 10 „ below „ | - | 1 | - | |||
| ,, 20 ,, ,, ,, | - | - | - | |||
| Maximum weight | st. | lb. | st. | lb. | st. | lb. |
| 7 | 10 | 7 | 13 | 9 | 11 | |
| Minimum ,, | 7 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 4 |
| Average „ | 7 | 8 | 6 | 13 | 7 | 13 |
| Number 10 per cent, above average | - | 3 | ||||
| ,, 20 ,, ,, ,, | - | - | 2 | |||
| „ 10 „ below ,, | - | 3 | 3 | |||
| ,, 20 ,, ,, ,, | 1 | - | ||||
| Inches. | Number of cases. | Percentage of total cases. |
|---|---|---|
| 28 to 29 | 2 | 7.0 |
| 29 „ 30 | 7.0 | |
| 30 „ 31 | 5 | 17.1 |
| 31 „ 32 | 5 | 17.1 |
| 32 „ 33 | 7 | 24.2 |
| 33 34 | 5 | 17.1 |
| 34 „ 35 | 1 | 3.5 |
| 35 „ 36 | 1 | 3.5 |
| 36 ,, 37 | 1 | 3.5 |
| Inches. | Number of cases. | Percentage of total cases. |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 2 ... ... ... | 2 | 7.0 |
| 2 ,, 3 ... ... ... | 7 | 24.1 |
| 4 ,, 5 | 17 | 58.6 |
| 4 ,, 5 | 3 | 10.3 |
Lungs.—There was no case of lung disease.
Heart.—There was one case of mitral regurgitation, probably the result of rheumatic fever
some years previously. This girl was also examined when a junior scholar. The heart appears
to be in the same condition as on that occasion, and the general health is not impaired.
Spine.—One girl had slight lateral curvature of the spine.
Eyes.—There was no case of colour blindness. 20 cases, 69 per cent., had perfect vision.
In 4, i.e., 13.8 per cent., the vision was below " army standard," in one case one eye only
being affected. One only possessed glasses; the other three were recommended to see an oculist.
Throat and nose.—Four girls had slightly enlarged tonsils.
Hearing.—In one case there was deafness on one side, the watch being heard on contact only.
This girl had had otorrhoea in childhood, and had had an operation upon the mastoid.
Urine.—There were 4 cases, 13.8 per cent., of albuminuria. Three of these were examined
on two different occasions, and in all these the albumen was present at both examinations. The
general health was good in every case.
Remarks.—The results of these examinations are very similar to previous ones, and show, on
the whole, a satisfactory condition of general physique in the scholars examined. The large
number of cases of weak back muscles, causing a tendency to lateral curvature, suggests that
more ought to be done in the way of physical exercise and gymnastics in elementary schools for
girls.