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

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London County Council 1912

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

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161
Report of the County Medical Officer—Education.
the new school year; these were joined by 64 others admitted after the medical examination of nominees
of teachers, care committees and school doctors. It is to be regretted that in some instances less
suitable children were enrolled, parental indifference preventing the attendance of first selections.
The 93 children above referred to were chosen by the examining medical officers on account of the
following conditions—
Malnutrition and generally poor physique 30
Family history of or signs suggesting phthisis 22
Phthisis 19
Anaemia 9
Chest conditions (non-tubercular) 4
Enlargement of glands 5
Other conditions4
Apart from the condition which was the guiding factor in determining their admission, the
majority were found at subsequent examinations to require dental treatment, and many needed surgical
attention for the common defects of eyes, ears, nose and throat; this was arranged for and obtained in
most cases during the year.
The children for the most part came from poor homes, as can be gathered from the fact that
their average weekly contribution for meals was only 6d. out of the estimated cost of 2s. 6d.; extra
clothing consequently had to be provided for them during the colder months, and a blanket coat was
devised and answered well; similarly some 40 pairs of clogs were lent for use during school time.
It was intended that the normal length of stay should be the full school year, but in some few
instances children were returned to their ordinary elementary schools earlier, and in a few others were
invalided as unfit for any school attendance. In this latter group was a case of phthisis ; this girl
had been doing well until she met with a street accident; she was found to have lost ground considerably
on her return six weeks later, failed to recover in the next few days' observation, and died a fortnight
after she had been discharged from the school.
The improvement in the physical condition, general appearance and carriage was evident to all
who had opportunities of watching the children, and can be partly demonstrated by the following tables
showing gain in weight.
Improvement
in physical
condition.
Table showing the average weight at different ages on admission to the school, expressed in
kilograms and compared with the corresponding averages of all London elementary school children.
The superiority of the latter is seen in each age group except one where the total was swollen by the
inclusion of two unusually big boys—
Gain in
weight.
Boys. Girls.
Age last
birthday.
(1)
No. of
children.
(2)
Average
weight on
admission.
(3)
Average
weight of
all L.C.C.
School boys.
(4)
Age last
birthday.
(5)
No. of
children.
(6)
Average
weight on
admission.
(7)
Average
weight of
all L.C.C.
school girls.
(8)
7 4 22.57 — 7 1 20.07 —
8 4 22.32 23.47 8 4 19.10 22.92
9 7 23.78 25.46 9 9 23.10 25.00
10 7 26.77 27.59 10 7 26.35 27.16
11 11 28.62 29.25 11 7 27.80 29.87
12 11 34.26 32.46 12 8 28.81 33.32
13 3 33.13 36.40 13 2 35.30 37.71
Table showing the average gain in weight (in kilograms) in each age group during the 40 weeks commencing
1st April, compared with the corresponding averages of all London elementary school children.
The comparison becomes still more favourable when it is remembered that the increase has occurred
in children who, while in their old environment, had been making less than the standard gain—
Boys. Girls.
Age last
birthday.
(1)
No. of
children.
(2)
Average
gain in 40
weeks.
(3)
Average
gain in
standard
boys.
(4)
Age last
birthday.
(5)
No. of
children.
(6)
Average
gain in 40
weeks.
(7)
Average
gain in
standard
girls.
(8)
7 4 2.7 — 7 1 1.5 —
8 4 1.7 1.56 8 4 3.9 1.67
9 7 2.2 1.78 9 9 2.9 1.89
10 7 2.7 1.78 10 7 3.4 2.42
11 11 2.7 2.33 11 7 3.5 2.89
12 11 3.8 2.89 12 8 4.2 3.33
13 3 4.3 2.67 13 2 4.9 3.67
18820 x