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 1906
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
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The syllabus,which has been abbreviated by leaving out the terms printed in italics, is the one which was used ten years ago for lectures to teachers in Bradford, and has since been slightly modified and approved by a committee of the Incorporated Society of Medical Officers of Health as suitable for medical men who may be required to lecture to teachers.
| Nature of lessons. | Nature of test. | Result of test at end of work. | Symptoms noted. | Remarks. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subjective. | Objective. | ||||
| Geography, history, singing, arithmetic. | 4 sums 85 mental efforts. | +31.8 | o | Good work, room stuffy. | Only excess of moisture. |
| Geography, history, singing, arithmetic. | 5 problems. | — 4.5 | Headaches o Flushing of face, 3. | Inattention, restlessness, work badly done. | Excess of temperature and carbonic acid. |
| History, composition, grammar, arithmetic. | Filling in 20 names and dates elided. | —21.2 | o | Good work, no noticeable inattention. | do. |
| History, composition, grammar, arithmetic. | * * * | ... | Headache 10, sick 1, one observer with headache. | Not working well, restlessness. | do. |
| Geography, history, singing, algebra. | 8 problems. | — 9.8 | Headache 10, sick 1, flushing, 1, observer too had headache. | Lazy, marked drop at half time, inattention and inactivity. | do. |
| Chemistry, arithmetic. | 5 problems. | -15.0 | Headache 1. | Work well done, bright at end. | Normal, save for excess of respiratory CO2, fans, aided this. |
| History, algebra, arithmetic. | 5 problems. | -37.6 | o | Work well done till half time, then restless and wanting in concentration. | do. |
| Geography, writing, arithmetic. | 8 problems. | + 2.2 | o | Good work done. | Movement by fan saved conditions in spite of great excess of respiratory C02; |
| Geography, writing, arithmetic. | 20 sums. | — 5.0 | o | Work badly done, especially late in afternoon, no concentration. | High temperature. |
| History, composition, arithmetic. | do. | + 4.54 | o | Good work done.- | Normal, save for moisture. |
| Arithmetic, algebra. | do. | + 8.86 | o | Good work done. | do |
| Algebra, arithmetic. | do. | —14.46 | Headaches 2, | Well done at first, later marked deterioration. | Moisture and carbonic acid in excess. |
| Reading, arithmetic | do. | + 1.76 | o | Well done, but lazy at end. | do. |
| Arithmetic. geography, history | do. | — 5.0 | Headaches 3, flushed faces all. | Room oppressive and hct, good work at first but marked drop. | High temperature only. |
| Composition. grammar, arithmetic. | do. | — 1 6 | Headaches 3, flushed 4. | Slack, lolling about; teacher disinclined for work. | do. |
| History, arithmetic. | do. | —19.24 | Headache 1. | Well done at first, but exhausted at end of day. | High temperature, moisture and excessive C02. |
| Writing. singing, algebra, arithmetic. | do. | — 8.26 | Headaches, all: oppression of chest and head 3. | Work well done, oppression, marked drop at end. | do. |
| Notetaking in history and geography, then arithmetic. | do | —14.6 | Headaches 3. | Lazy, want of application and con-centration.' | do. |
| History, algebra, arithmetic.- | do. | — 8.74 | No headaches, but oppression of chest and head. | Work well done, but mentally exhausted at end of day. | Normal save great excess of added co2. |
| History, geography, arithmetic. | do. | —110 | Headaches, 8. | Slackness and want of concentration. | do. |
| History, geography, singing, geometry | do. | +22.4 | o | Good work done | Normal conditions. |
| History, geography, singing, geometry | do | + 9.2 | o | Good work done | Normal conditions. |