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 1929
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
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| June. | July. | Aug. | Sept. | Oct. | Nov. | Dec. | Total. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Larceny | 20 | 40 | 39 | 25 | 25 | 32 | 26 | 207 |
| Being beyond parental control | 1 | 6 | 6 | 13 | 9 | 8 | 2 | 45 |
| Wandering | 1 | 2 | 4 | 10 | 4 | 9 | 1 | 31 |
| Housebreaking | 9 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 30 |
| Education Act cases | — | 13 | — | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 20 |
| Breach of recognisances | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 17 |
| "Living in circumstances," etc. | — | 6 | — | 2 | — | — | 1 | 9 |
| Suspected persons | 3 | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | — | 1 | 7 |
| "Places of safety" cases | — | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | 5 |
| Embezzlement | — | 1 | — | 3 | 1 | — | — | 5 |
| Parent criminal or drunkard | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | 2 | 4 |
| Begging | — | 1 | — | — | 3 | — | — | 4 |
| Sex offences | — | 2 | — | 1 | — | 1 | — | 4 |
| "Lodgers" | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Arson | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | 2 |
| Unlawful wounding | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 |
| Being in unlawful possession | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 |
| Uttering threats | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 |
| Placing obstruction on railway | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 |
| Causing wilful damage | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 |
| Totals | 35 | 92 | 54 | 64 | 59 | 56 | 41 | 401 |
Little in the way of useful commentary can be made because of the short period
reviewed and the fewness of the cases. It may be observed, however, that the larceny
cases are nearly twice as numerous in June, July and August than in the remaining
months. This difference would be more marked were the whole month of June
included instead of only 13 days in the month. The kindred crime of housebreaking
also reaches its maximum during the same three months. The Education Act,
"place of safety" and "living in circumstances" cases are presumably end of term
clearances. The weather during June, July, August and September was unusually
fine with much sunshine and practically no rainfall. There was no severe or wet
weather throughout the whole period.
Physical Examination.—Complete physical examination was carried out on
each child with the primary object of ascertaining fitness or otherwise for admission
to certified schools; 361 were found fit for ordinary certified schools (industrial
and reformatory), 29 mentally defective children were recommended as fit for special
certified schools or institutions and the remainder (11) were found unfit—4 by reason
of myopia of extreme degree, 5 on account of serious heart disease and 2 lung cases.
The average heights of the delinquent group in question are better at all ages (except
10) than the corresponding average heights for London children, but the weights
of the delinquent group were generally below the London averages.
Nutrition and Physique.—The estimate of nutrition and physique is liable to
the influence of personal equation, but it may be noted that 15.2 per cent. of the
Ponton-road children were judged to be of poor nutrition as compared with 4.8
per cent. so adjudged by school doctors examining London elementary school
children, while 19 per cent. of the delinquent group were returned as of poor physique.
The difference between the estimate of the delinquent group and the London group
is so great that one must conclude that the former is markedly inferior.
Conditions of cleanliness of the head and body show, as one would expect,
the same inferiority of the delinquent group, and there is a high percentage of skin
disease—13.3 per cent. as against 1 per cent. in the London group.