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 1925
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
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school attendance; 80 (44 boys and 36 girls) deemed to be imbeciles; 4 (2 boys
and 2 girls) deemed to be feeble-minded; and 15 (4 boys and 11 girls) idiots.
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 | 52 | 45 | 97 |
| Cerebral paralysis | 6 | 12 | 18 |
| Various paralyses | 38 | 35 | 73 |
| Tuberculosis of bones and joints | 131 | 113 | 244 |
| Congenital deformities | 15 | 7 | 22 |
| Other deformities | 78 | 66 | 143 |
| Heart disease— | |||
| Congenital | 22 | 33 | 55 |
| Acquired valvular | 133 | 197 | 330 |
| Acquired non-valvular | 20 | 33 | 53 |
| Other diseases | 33 | 38 | 71 |
| 528 | 578 | 1,106 |
Examinations were also conducted of 123 cases with a view to ascertaining
fitness for education in industrial or reformatory schools.
Rota visits to
the schools.
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 20,108;
in addition, 534 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. As a result of the visits and re-examinations, the following
reclassification took place: 256 returned on improvement to elementary schools;
15 were transferred to schools for the deaf and hard of hearing; 16 to schools for
the blind and partially blind; 17 from schools for the physically defective to schools
for the mentally defective; 2 from schools for the mentally defective to schools
for the physically defective; 33 were excluded as imbecile, 64 were invalided
on medical grounds; and 506, over 14 years of age, were excluded as no longer
certifiable.
Residential
schools.
There are 4 residential industrial schools and 6 residential schools (2 for the
blind, 2 for deaf, 1 for defective deaf, and 1 for mentally defective children) with a
total accommodation for 826 residential and 222 day scholars. To each institution
is allocated a medical officer, and provision has been made for dental inspection
and treatment. During the year 669 boys were admitted to Pentonville Road Place
of Detention, and 241 girls and infants to Ponton Road.
366 children were referred for special examination as suffering from deafness.
Deaf
children.
These cases were seen by the Council's consulting aural surgeon, with the following results:—
| Fit for Central School | 4 | Fit for Mentally Defective Centre | 13 |
| „ „ Elementary School | 19 | „ „ Physically Defective Centre | 1 |
| „ „ „ „ (front row) | 88 | Imbecile or Idiot ... | 4 |
| „ „ Hard of Hearing Centre | 82 | Invalided | 11 |
| „ „ Deaf School (Normal) | 87 | Advice given | 45 |
| „ „ „ „ (Defective) | 12 | ||
| * Including 29 revision cases. | *366 | ||
In the cases found suitable for special education the cause of deafness has been
classified as under: Congenital 35, acquired 119, doubtful 11—total 165. The
congenital cases were made up as follows: True hereditary deafness 10, sporadic
deaf-birth 23, aphasia 2—total 35.
The acquired cases were due to the following causes: Meningitis (various forms)
12, infectious fevers 19, congenital syphilis 5, primary ear diseases (catarrh, suppuration,
or results thereof) 79, injuries 4—total 119.