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London County Council
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COUNCIL, 1933
VOL. III (Part II)
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL MEDICAL OFFICER FOR THE YEAR 1933.
By Sir Frederick Menzies, K.B.E., M.D., LL.D., F.R.C.P., F.R.S.E., County
Medical Officer of Health and School Medical Officer.
Introduction.
During the year 1933, economic difficulties still continued and unemployment
though somewhat less prevalent than in 1932, was still rife. There was considerable
apprehension lest the health and physique of the children should suffer. Special
steps were taken to ascertain the facts and to endeavour to ameliorate, so far as
powers are given under the Education Act, the lot of those subjected to adverse
economic conditions.
In this connection reference may be made to the special reports on nutrition
which appear on pages 12 and 90. More children are receiving school meals and
the whole of the official staff together with the voluntary care workers have been
on the qui vive. With regard to routine inspections the number reported to be
below average nutrition was 4.7 per cent. the lowest ever recorded in London, but
as evidence of the great care taken lest any child should suffer, it may be mentioned
that a larger proportion than in the previous year, namely 1.0 per cent. of the
total inspected compared with 0.91 per cent. were marked for "treatment" so that
every possible step within the resources of the school medical service might be taken
to help those in need of attention.
While in dealing with such a serious matter as the nutritional condition of the
London school child, there is no place for unbalanced optimism, yet it is fair to say
that, on the best evidence available, the great increase in the number of ill-nourished
children which might reasonably have been expected has not occurred, and the
school "social" services have apparently been able to cope successfully with one
of the most trying episodes which they have yet had to face.
One word of warning is, however, necessary. Great national disturbances
have effects which are both immediate and remote. The remote effects of the
Great War on children born during that period are referred to in this report (see p. 19).
Similarly, though the immediate effects of the prolonged depression appear from a
consideration of the massed statistics to be surprisingly satisfactory in comparison
with what might have been expected, yet there may have been some undermining
of the health of the children which will show itself in insidious ways in the future.
Judged, however, by the ordinary standards the results of the years' work are
good. The percentage of children referred by the school doctors at routine
inspections for treatment for any defect other than dental declined from 17.5 per
cent. in 1932 to 16.3 per cent., and of those recommended for treatment the largest
proportion yet recorded, namely 82.2 per cent. were regarded at the re-inspection
as "cured," or as having had defects remedied.
The numbers of children suffering from otorrhoea, defective vision and anaemia
all showed a decrease. More spectacles were obtained; the references to the
National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children were fewer. Indeed
with one exception, namely in dental cases, there was an increased desire to pay
heed to the advice of the school doctor. Despite years of intensive educational
effort to induce parents and children to accept dental treatment, there were still
nearly 40 per cent. who declined to make use of the facilities offered. What
further steps can be taken to deal with this regrettable state of affairs is a matter
for the earnest consideration of all concerned in the health of the rising and future
generations.
5
900. (M.C. 14696—6.) 15.6.34.