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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188
Annual Report of the London County Council, 1912.
In over two-thirds of the cases the relatives had noted a deficiency apart from the child's
attendance and lack of progress at school. In 1,326 cases the age at which the child commenced to walk
and to talk had been recorded; in many of the others the parent had been unable to supply the information.
The percentage distribution of the age of commencement of these activities is as follows:—
Age. Percentage who walked. Percentage who talked.
1 year 24.3 23.8
11½ „ 273 20.0
2 „ 23.4 26.3
3 „ 158 14.6
4 „ 6.7 8.6
5 „ 2.2 5.8
6 „ .3 .9
The previous history and the initial medical examination revealed the following defects and
stigmata in 1,500 children adjudged to be mentally defective:—
History of "fits" probably epileptic in nature 91
History of infantile convulsions 259
Enlarged tonsils and adenoids 138
Deafness 89
Word deafness 1
Otorrhœa 27
Markedly defective articulation 177
Defective vision 95
Corneal opacities 17
Squint 95
Nystagmus 19
Cataract 9
Coloboma 3
Exophthalmos 1
Microphthalmos 6
Infantile paralysis 15
Club foot 11
Spastic paraplegia 7
Hemiplegia 15
Spinal caries 4
Hip disease 9
Other tuberculous joints 3
Coxa vara 1
Spinal curvature 19
Rickets 112
Chorea 15
Congenital heart disease 19
Hutchinson's teeth 17
Cranial asymmetry 35
Bossed forehead 85
Prominent and bulbous forehead 25
High narrow forehead 24
Narrow forehead 21
Low forehead 37
Depressed bridge of nose 19
High arched palate 181
Narrow palate 146
Cleft palate 9
Webbed fingers 1
Epicanthic fold 67
Nervous poise 111
Drooping thumbs 13
Twitching 105
Tremors 36
Over-action of face muscles 78
Vacant expression 112
Lack of control of reflexes 19
Dribbling 11
General retardation 85