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 1930
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
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76
connection with primary ear disease, past tonsillar disease and adenoids appear to
have been a preponderating factor both as regards suppurative and catarrhal middle
ear affection. Mastoid operations had been performed in 31 cases in which the
deafness followed suppurative middle ear disease.
Residential
schools.
Residential and Industrial Schools.
There are 7 residential special schools (2 for blind, 2 for deaf, 1 for mentally
defective deaf, 1 for mentally defective boys, and 1 for mentally defective girls)
with a total accommodation for 355 residential and 216 day scholars. To each
school is allocated a medical officer and provision has been made for dental inspection
and treatment.
Industrial
schools.
There are three industrial schools ( 2 for boys, 1 for girls ) with a total accommodation
for 357. To each institution is allocated a medical officer and a dentist.
Ponton-road
place of
detention.
Dr. Verner
Wiley's
report.
During the year, 785 children were admitted to Ponton-road place of detention.
The medical supervision continued under the charge of Dr. Verner Wiley, one of the
Council's full-time medical officers. His report is as follows:—
Admissions.—The number of admissions recorded in the admission book for the
year is 803 (696 boys and 107 girls). Subtracting re-admissions from hospitals
returned absconders, etc., the number is 785 (685 boys and 100 girls).
| Cases. | Cases. | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Toynbee Hall Juvenile Court | 154 | Petty Sessions, various | 40 |
| Islington Juvenile Court | 118 | Woolwich Juvenile Court | 35 |
| Lindsey Hall Juvenile Court | 94 | Battersea Juvenile Court | 33 |
| Various Middlesex Juvenile Courts | 79 | Guildhall Juvenile Court | 9 |
| Deptford Juvenile Court | 67 | "Place of Safety" cases and "Lodgers" (no Court) | 11 |
| Various Adult Courts | 55 | ||
| Lambeth Juvenile Court | 50 | 785 | |
| Caxton Hall Juvenile Court | 40 |
More than one-third of the cases came from the Juvenile Courts at Toynbee Hall
and Islington. The large number coming from the various Middlesex Courts is also
noteworthy.
The following table shows the charges and months of admission:—
| Jan. | Feb. | Mar. | Apr. | May | June. | July. | Aug. | Sept. | Oct. | Nov. | Dec. | Total. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Larceny | 29 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 22 | 25 | 21 | 19 | 30 | 17 | 25 | 301 |
| 2. Breaking, entering and stealing | 4 | — | 6 | 1 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 12 | 17 | 13 | 5 | 4 | 83 |
| 3. Breaking and entering | — | 1 | -— | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | 22 |
| 4. Being in unlawful possession | 1 | 1 | — | 6 | 3 | — | — | — | 2 | — | 3 | — | 16 |
| 5. Embezzlement | 3 | — | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 3 | 2 | 2 | — | 14 |
| 6. Found on enclosed premises | — | 1 | 1 | 3 | — | 1 | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | 9 |
| 7. Stealing and receiving | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 1 | — | 5 |
| 8. Larceny with forgery | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 |
| 9. Stealing by a trick | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 1 |
| 10. Burglary | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 |
| 11. Burglary and arson | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 1 |
| 12. Robbery with threats | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 |
| 13. Obtaining money by false pretences | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 1 |
| 14. Defrauding the railway | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 2 |
| 15. Suspected persons | 2 | — | 1 | 3 | 1 | - | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 13 | |
| 16. Loitering with intent, etc. | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 |
| 17. Beyond parental control | 8 | 14 | 11 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 16 | 7 | 2 | 95 |
| 18. Wandering | 3 | 3 | 5 | 11 | 10 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 66 |
| 19. Breach of recognisances | 4 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 51 |