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 1912
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
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Report of the County Medical Officer—Education. 175
An improvement was noticed in their appearance; they were less pale and more alert. They
also required more keeping in order. No ill effects were observed.
The improvement in weight among the Farncombe-street boys was as follows:—
| From 1.5 to 2.0 kilograms gained in three months | 4 |
| „ 1.0 to 1.4 ,, ,, „ | 6 |
| „ 0.5 to 0.9 „ „ „ | 14 |
| „ 0.0 to 0.4 „ „ „ | 3 |
| Boys who lost weight | 2 |
| Increase of weight among the girls at Southwark Park school. | |
| From 2.0 to 2.5 kilograms gained in three months | 5 |
| „ 1.5 to 1.9 „ „ „ | 5 |
| „ 1.0 to 14 „ „ „ | 9 |
| „ 0.5 to 0.9 „ „ „ | 2 |
| No change in three months | 2 |
Kensal House Tuberculosis School.—This school has been under the regular supervision of
Dr. Williamson, the medical officer of the Paddington and Kensington Dispensary, who is attached to
the Council's service for this purpose. The type of children admitted has undergone a gradual
transition. Many whose home conditions are so bad that they regularly came to school, especially
on Monday mornings, with high temperatures, have been eliminated, a certain number having been
sent to the Metropolitan Asylums Board's home at Rustington. These have been replaced by others
whose home conditions and state of health allowed of more benefit being derived from the facilities
afforded by the school. The authorities of the Dispensary have provided free dinners and other assistance
in cases of extreme poverty and every effort has been made to ensure that children leaving the school
shall proceed to suitable occupations. The proportion of cases without raised temperatures has increased ;
this has permitted a resumption of graduated exercise in the form of gardening instruction, games and
physical exercises, while steps have been taken for the establishment for the boys of classes in
carpentry. The cordial co-operation of the teachers with the medical officers in connection with rest
and exercise shows its effect in the improved general appearance and carriage of the children.
Kensal House
Tuberculosis
School
Examination of Candidates.
Candidates taking up permanent appointments in the school service are examined in the public
health department before commencing work. Candidates for scholarships are also required to be
examined before the scholarship is finally awarded. The number of candidates submitting themselves
for a first examination during the year was 5,984 ; these may be classified as (a) candidates for entrance
to the permanent service, (b) cases specially referred, and (c) candidates for award of scholarships.
The following table shows the nature of these defects:—
| Sex. | Teeth. | Vision. | Anæmia. | Chest. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (1) | (2) | (3) | (4) | (5) |
| Men | 1 | — | — | |
| Women | — | 8 | 1 | — |
Permanent
service
candidates
The following table shows the nature of these
defects:—
Sex.
Teeth.
Vision.
Anæmia.
Chest.
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
Men
1
—
—
1
Women
—
8
1
—
In addition to the first examinations 941 referred cases were dealt with. These referred cases
relate to leave granted to employees absent owing to personal illness ; to cases in which questions have
arisen in regard to students in institutions for higher education whose health is considered such as to
render exceptional attention advisable ; to teachers returning to duty after extended leave of absence
(a) owing to personal illness, (b) for educational purposes, (c) to married women under No. 115 of the
regulations in regard to the education service, and to teachers about to be superannuated. The number
of references under review compared with those for the preceding year shows an increase of 178 or 23.32
per cent.
In addition 107 cases were medically investigated in which claims were received from teachers
and others in the permanent service for exceptional treatment as regards sick pay and reimbursement
of medical and other expenses in respect of illnesses alleged to be due to conditions under which they
were required to carry out their duties.
Cases
specially
referred