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

View report page

Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London

London County Council 1904

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]

This page requires JavaScript

Text

Copy text to clipboard

7
definite factor in producing mal-nutrition, the insufficient food-energy being first taxed to keep up
the animal heat.

Table: Mental capacity as affected by physique. —The mental capacity was gauged by the class teachers. The marks 1 to 5 were given in the following manner:—

Mental capacity as affected by physique. —The mental capacity was gauged by the class teachers. The marks 1 to 5 were given in the following manner:—

No.Percentage.
Very dull and backward235
2. Below the average7017
3. Average intelligence17343
4. Above the average9824
5. Brilliant4110

Text

Copy text to clipboard

It must be remembered that the actual mentally defective were already weeded out and sent
to special schools.
No correlation can be established between mental capacity and physique in this school; the
93 below average intelligence correspond with the average age, weight, and height for the school.
The 98 boys given as above the average (class 4) have a decided advantage in physique, 1.5 centimetres
in height and .5 kilos, in weight, the exceptionally brilliant boys (numbering 41), however,
are actually slightly below the average physique—a quarter of a kilogram in weight and .4 centimetres
in height.

Table: The effect of overcrowding upon physique.-

The effect of overcrowding upon physique.-

No. of rases.Average divergence from normal age physique of the Schcol, Weight (kilos). Height (cms.).
Living in 1-roomed tenements15-1.3-2.6
„ 2 „ „700-1
„ 3 „ „350+1
„ 4 „ „84+1.3+2

Table: Here, again, we see that only at the extremes can any effect be made out upon the physique; more important than the number of rooms of course is the number of occupants per room:-

Here, again, we see that only at the extremes can any effect be made out upon the physique; more important than the number of rooms of course is the number of occupants per room:-

No. per room.No. of cases.Average divergence.
Weight.Height.
1-241+.5+1.5
2-36600
3-4390-.3
4-5160-.7
More than 510-3.5-7.6

Text

Copy text to clipboard

There is seen here a slight effect only until we reach the serious overcrowding of more than
five to a room, when the divergence becomes startling. It may be of some interest to give full
particulars of these ten cases:—
No. Mental. Age. standard. Height. Weight. Father. Mother.
1 Average 10.2 II. —5.5 cms. —2 kil. Asphalter Brush Maker
2 Below average 10.2 I. —10.5 „ —3.5 „ Fruit Seller Paper Bag Maker
3 Very dull 8.6 I. —10 „ —5 „ Tin Can Maker Onion Seller
4 Excellent 7.6 I. —9 „ —3 ,, ? Fish Seller
5 „ 7.0 I. —12 „ —4.5 „ General Dealer At home
6 Average 11.0 III. —5 „ —4 „ „ „ „
7 Excellent 10.3 II. —7 „ —3.5 „ Dying Invalid Hawker
8 Very good 9.1 I. —1.5 „ —1.5 „ Bootblack. Dead
9 „ 9.2 I. +3 „ +0 „ Carman At home
10 Average 9.8 I. —12 „ —6.7 „ Hawker ?
■
No. Teeth. Cleanliness. Sufficient Clothing. Children in Family Alive. Remarks.
No. in
Room.
1 Bad, 2 Verminous Insufficient 3 Rickety 5
2 Bad, 2 Average Insufficient 6 — 8
3 Useless, 1 Dirty Average 3 — 5
4 Poor, 3 „ Insufficient 4 — 6
5 Poor, 3 Average Average 10 — 6
6 Very bad, 2 „ „ 10 Brother of No. 5 6
7 Good, 4 Verminous Insufficient 5 — 7
8 Poor, 3 „ Very bad
22, 16, 15 (girls)
and 18, 9 (boys)
One ragged coat 6
9 Poor, 3 Dirty „ 3 Chronic Bronchitis 5
10 Poor, 3 Verminous Very good 10 Chronic Blepharitis 6