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 1908

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

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13
Each of the schools for physically defective children is visited at least once a month, and each
of the residential schools once in three months by the Medical Officer. The visits to ordinary schools
have been at irregular intervals. Arrangements have now been made for a nurse to visit each school
at least once a month.
TRAINING COLLEGES, PUPIL TEACHERS' CENTRES AND
SECONDARY SCHOOLS.

Table: During the half-year ending 31st March, 1908, the colleges, centres, and secondary schools have been visited, and a large number of the students carefully examined, a card register being established.With regard to the physical defects noted below:—

During the half-year ending 31st March, 1908, the colleges, centres, and secondary schools have been visited, and a large number of the students carefully examined, a card register being established.

With regard to the physical defects noted below:—

Institutions.Numbers.DEFECTS.
Number of Visits.Number on Roll.Number examined.Throats.Backs.Heart.Glands.Anæmia.MalnutritionTeeth-defective.Lack of Cleanliness.Ears.Speech.Vision.
Round.Curvature.Lungs.
Training Colleges. Avery-hill253203209593012–7629119371580
Clapham Day1½16016012410--15—3726222132
Greystoke-place24½14922833024—4-49118234257
London Day41143140161291211736611335
Islington Day25025317141317137171212–454
P. T. Centres. Battersea6½2069942631–1454211324
Chelsea8½256165139151?-1331256—1750
Deptford102201182278-1—251242—2434
Hackney917517822532923123486102231
Mile End612811092010—--835441–20
Stepney612510382810-2-2284643–20
Woolwich71½15085386-2–1593523419
Secondary Schools. Eltham141401211034201?33152231341430
Fulham19½256247285132–572221719102568
Hackney202202657752421?81745371315210440
Kentish Town26309309514548–9–503513795459
Kingsland20245244614554–15537181073113444
Manor Mount1112011552314–41241233631011
Paddington17143145282910–113212078174728
Peckham29240265215933–344615782971870
St. Pancras78079151971?22973495–13
Southwark17135164302533–51242868223138
Stockwell19½293321185543–187451112318136123
Sydenham16150158122424–2421164198549
Wandsworth5897829229–116103992–20

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Lungs.—Three students were rejected for phthisis.
Backs.—The women doctors called attention to the carrying of heavy books as a factor in causing
round backs or curvature in those thus predisposed. The contents of book bags were found sometimes
to weigh 7 or 8 pounds. The provision of additional lockers at school is recommended ; this is
especially wanted in schools like Paddington and St. Pancras, which are also used for evening classes.
Hearts.—About half of the students noted with defect of the heart showed actual organic disease.
In each case games or exercises were regulated as required.
Personal hygiene.—In spite of strenuous efforts on the part of the mistresses, a large percentage
of the pupils still show a want of cleanliness. In many cases lectures dealing specially with personal
hygiene have been given by the teachers in consequence of the medical examinations.
Teeth.—All cases presenting caries were noted, and the percentage appears large. There is a
very decided improvement in the routine use of the toothbrush. At the Peckham school the headmistress
has arranged with a dentist to attend systematically to the teeth of the children owing to the
difficulty of obtaining suitable treatment.
General remarks.—It would be a good plan if the general supervision of health, as well as
the organisation of games and exercises, were definitely committed to the drill mistresses. In some of
the schools, notably Hackney, Kentish Town and Paddington, the sanitary arrangements
are very defective. On re-examining the girls it is found that a very considerable number have taken
steps to remedy defects, and often with gratifying results. It is found to be very difficult to make
the girls realise the need for a sufficiency of sleep. This is the case in the schools, but particularly in
the Pupil Teachers' Centres, where there is little attempt to limit the time spent on homework.