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

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London County Council 1913

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

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189
Report of the County Medical Officer—Education
those candidates the stage of the scholarship is carefully noted, as the strain increases with the
award, and it sometimes happens that a candidate who has been accepted for a junior county
scholarship is rejected for the succeeding awards because attendance at higher institutions would be
injurious to health.
The medical examination of junior county scholars practically gives the defects of the
brightest children of the age group, 11 years old last birthday, and as the children must, in any case,
remain in school until 14 years of age, the rejections are few. Most useful work is done, however,
by making it a condition of award that all remediable defects shall be treated before the children
are allowed to take up the scholarships. Supplementary junior county scholarships are reserved for
children of less than 14 and not less than 13 years of age who by reason of late development or
other cause fail to obtain the junior county scholarships.
The intermediate county scholarships are open to boys and girls who are from 16 to 17 years
of age on 31st July in the year of competition, and are tenable at approved secondary schools or
technical colleges until the end of the school year in which the scholar attains the age of 18, but
may be in special cases renewed for a further period of one year.
The senior county scholarships are intended to assist candidates of the age of 18 and upwards
who desire to pursue a course of study at an institution of university rank.
Appendix XVII (A) shows the number of candidates for county scholarships examined
and the conditions found.
Of the 880 junior county scholars who were referred back for various defects, excluding those
6 (girls) whose scholarships were finally withdrawn, 101 (32 boys and 69 girls) were referred again
owing to the conditions not having been remedied. A further analysis of these numbers shows
that the causes of the second reference were for—
Sex. ,Wa"t of Vision. ' Teeth. Throat. Ears. Hip. General
cleanliness. healtn.
Boys — 23 6 2 2 — —
Girls 9 55 10 2 1 1 1
Some of the scholars were referred again for more than one defect.
Of the 106 supplementary junior county scholars who were referred back for various defects,
4 boys were referred again, 2 owing to defects of vision and 2 owing to dental defects not having
been remedied, and 4 ffirls were also referred for defects of vision. 1 girl for teeth and 1 girl for
heart.

The. following table shows the nature of the defects of 8 girls who were rejected—

Award.No. rejected.Reason of rejection.
Want of cleanliness.Vision.Throat.General health.
Junior county6321-
Supplementary junior county21--1

Of the candidates passed as fit 43 junior county scholars, 17 supplementary junior county
scholars, and 5 intermediate county scholars were accepted with defects that did not easily lend themselves
to treatment but which would not interfere with their studies.
The Council's scheme of trade scholarships is intended to encourage students to devote themselves
to special branches of technical or industrial work. In medically examining the candidates
the standard of examination is varied according to the trade that the scholar proposes to follow,
because each trade has its peculiar effect upon the health of the workers.
Appendix XVII (B) shows the number of candidates examined in connection with each award,
and the conditions found. Of the 238 students referred, 21(8 boys, 13 girls) were referred a second
time owing to the conditions not having being remedied.

An analysis of these numbers is given in the following table—

Scholarship.Number referred a second time.Reason for rejection.
Want of cleanliness.Vision.Throat.Teeth.Ears.
M.F.M.F.M.F.M.F.M.F.M.F.
Beaufoy institute1.........1.........1.........
Book production2.........2.....................
Building and Allied Trades3.........2...1...1.........
Cookery13......12.........1......
Corset making...1-......1..................
Dressmaking...1.........1..................
Engineering1.....................1...1...
Millinery...2...1...............1......
Tailoring ladies...2.........2..................
Upholstery...4...2...3..................