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 1913
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
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208
Annual Report of the London County Council, 1913.
The following table compares the results of the examinations with those for the previous year:—
| Sex. | M.D. | M.D. and P.D. | P.D. | Blind. | Blind and M.D. | Myope. | Deaf. | Deaf and M.D. | Partially deaf. | Industrial Schools. | Elemental) Schools. | Imbecile. | Invalids. | Epileptics. | Total. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (1) | (2) | (3) | (4) | (5) | (6) | (7) | 1 (8) | (9) | (10) | (11) | (12) | (13) | (14) | (16) | (16) |
| Boys | 1,097 | - | 692 | 59 | - | 87 | 74 | 2 | 34 | 94 | 1,116 | 78 | 588 | 41 | 3,962 |
| Girls | 852 | 2 | 705 | 66 | 1 | 150 | 74 | 3 | 50 | 19 | 1,170 | 68 | 766 | 36 | 3,961 |
| Totals, 1913 | 1,949 | 2 | 1,397 | 125 | - | 237 | 148 | 5 | 84 | 113 | 2,286 | 146 | 1,354 | 77 | 7,923* |
| Totals, 1912 | 2,025 | 4 | 1,444 | 106 | 1 | 196 | 111 | 4 | 34 | 32 | 2,628 | 138 | 1,903 | 114 | 8,740* |
| *Some of the hard of hearing and myopes on this table are also included under "Elementary School" or " Invalids," and others were seen on more than one occasion during the year. | |||||||||||||||
The following return shows the number of exceptional children recorded in the area of the
Council, on the 8th January, 1914, and the categories under which they have been certified at a
special examination:—
Blind (including partially blind) Attending Public Elementary Schools 267
Attending Certified Schools for the Blind 436
Not at School 35
Deaf and Dumb (including partially deaf)... Attending Public Elementary Schools 35
Attending Certified Schools for the Deaf 716
Not at School 7
Mentally Deficient (excluding imbeciles and Attending Public Elementary Schools 488
idiots) Attending Certified Schools for Mentally Defective Children 7,575
Not at School 46
Epileptics Attending Certified Schools for Epileptics 69
Not at School 165
Physically Defective Attending Public Elementary Schools 120
Attending Certified Schools for Physically Defective
children 3,674
Not at School 308
Rota visits.
The special schools were visited at least once a quarter, and every child present was seen at
least once during the year. Whenever possible three days' notice of the intended visit of the medical
officer was given to the head teacher, who, in the cases of the mentally defective and physically
defective schools, was requested to present for examination all children included in the following
categories:—
(а) Those who had been admitted to the school during the preceding three months.
(b) Those who had not been seen for nine months.
(c) Those who were applying for exemption or were approaching the age of 14 years.
(d) Those whom it was considered desirable to place before the doctor.
(e) Those who had attained the age of ten years nine months since the last visit
The total number of medical examinations made during the year was 14,555.
The following table compares the recommendations made as regards re-classification in the case oi scholars attending the schools for the mentally and physically defective, with the recommendations for the previous year (1912).
| Sex. | Elementary school. | Blind and Myope. | Deaf and partially deaf. | P.D. to M.D. | M.D. to P.D. | Ex- eluded as Imb. | Invalid. | Exemption recommended. | Not suitable for. | Suitable for | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elder boys. | Elder girls. | Elder boys. | Elder cirls. | |||||||||
| (i) | (2) | (3) | (4) | (5) | (6) | (7) | (8) | (9) | (10) | o (11) | (12) | (13) |
| Boys Girls | 192 167 | 3 4 | 10 5 | 32 25 | 7 3 | 40 33 | 40 53 | 146 147 | 112 | 42 | 380 | 188 |
| Totals, 1913 | 359 | 7 | 15 | 57 | 10 | 73 | 93 | 293* | 112 | 42 | 380 | 188 |
| Totals, 1912 | 426 | 6 | 17 | 55 | 17 | 93 | 99 | 187 | 69 | 30 | 361 | 109 |
| *In addition to these cases, 313 special examinations were also made in connection with applications for exemption from further school attendance. | ||||||||||||
Mental
Deficiency
Act.
In view of the passing of the Mental Deficiency Act, Dr. Shrubsall, assistant medical officer,
has collected some information with regard to children in the special schools along the lines of the
form suggested by the Chief Medical Officer of the Board of Education.