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 1922
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
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The following statement shows the nature of the conditions found among the children certified suitable for admission to physically defective schools at the admission examinations during the year:—
| Morbid condition. | Boys. | Girls. | Total. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infantile paralysis | 61 | 49 | 110 |
| Cerebral paralysis | 10 | 12 | 22 |
| Various paralyses | 16 | 12 | 28 |
| Tuberculosis of bones and joints | 120 | 92 | 212 |
| Congenital deformities | 5 | 10 | 15 |
| Other deformities | 48 | 29 | 77 |
| Heart disease— | |||
| Congenital | 27 | 26 | 53 |
| Acquired valvular | 99 | 163 | 262 |
| Acquired non-valvular | 9 | 15 | 24 |
| Other diseases | 44 | 51 | 95 |
| 439 | 459 | 898 | |
The special schools were visited at least once a quarter and every child
present was seen at least once during the year, the total examinations amounting
to 17,742; in addition, 454 special examinations were made of children
already on the rolls of special schools in connection with applications for non-enforcement
of attendance at special schools, etc., etc. As a result of the visits and
re-examinations, the following re-classification took place 267 returned on improvement
to elementary schools, 9 to schools for the deaf, 8 to schools for the blind, 33
from schools for the physically defective to schools for the mentally defective;
220 were excluded as imbecile, 96 were invalided on medical grounds, and 427, over
14 years of age, were excluded as no longer certifiable.
Examinations were also conducted of 89 cases with a view to committal to industrial
schools and reformatories.
Residential
schools.
There are 4 residential (industrial) schools, 6 residential schools (2 for blind,
2 for deaf, 1 for defective deaf and 1 for mentally defective children), with a total
accommodation for 845 residential and 90 day scholars. To each institution is allocated
a medical officer and provision has been made for dental inspection and treatment.
During the year 880 boys were admitted to Pentonville-road Place of
Detention and 310 girls and infants to Ponton-road.
Deaf
children.
275 children were referred for special examination as suffering from deafness.
These cases were seen by the Council's consulting aural surgeon, Mr. Yearsley, with
the following results:—Special defects, 2; fit for elementary school, 18; fit for elementary
school (front row) 44; fit for Hard of Hearing Centre, 66; fit for Deaf Centre
(Normal) 109; fit for Deaf Centre (Defective) 4; fit for Mentally Defective Centre,
10 ; Physically Defective, 4; invalided, 10; advice given, 8.
In the 177 cases found suitable for special education, the cause of deafness has been classified as under:—
| Congenital | Boys-25 | Girls—40 | Total-65 | |||
| Acquired | 44 | 51 | 95 | |||
| Doubtful | 8 | 9 | 17 | |||
| The 95 acquired cases were due to the following causes:— | ||||||
| Meningitis (various forms) | Boys— 9 | Girls— 2 | Total—11 | |||
| Infectious fevers | 4 | 10 | 14 | |||
| Tuberculosis (suppuration) | 1 | 1 | „ | 2 | ||
| Congenital syphilis | „ | 0 | 7 | 7 | ||
| Pneumococcal infection (internal ear) | 1 | 0 | 1 | |||
| Primary ear diseases (catarrh, suppuration or otosclerosis) | 26 | 29 | 55 | |||
| Injuries | 3 | „ | 2 | 5 | ||
Physically
defective
children.
The result of a survey by Major Elmslie of the conditions of orthopædic cases
attending the Council's special schools for physically defective children, is under
consideration. The report has been published and is now on sale.