Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
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the clinic. The number of school children referred to the clinic during the year was
345, of which number 194 were boys and 151 girls. The majority of cases were referred
by school care committees and hospital authorities, while a number of cases
were sent by private doctors, education authorities and relatives of patients. The
age distribution was: 5 to 8 years, 109; 9 to 11 years, 122; 12 to 14 years, 100;
over 14 years, 14.
Dr. Wm. Moodie, medical director of the clinic, reports that, during the year
1934, the number of school children dealt with at the clinic was 191. Of these, 125
were boys and 66 girls. The age distribution was: under 5 years, 7; 5 to 8 years,
66; 9 to 11 years, 69; 12 to 14 years, 46; and over 14 years, 3.
London
child
guidance
clinic.
A comparison of the intelligence quotients of the cases referred to the clinic
shows that a larger proportion of children of high or average intelligence were referred
compared with previous years. This is probably accounted for by the increased
use which is being made of the clinic by head teachers for advice as to the treatment
of backward children where the backwardness is not due to defects of intelligence.
The work of the clinic generally has continued on the lines of (1) full service
of intensive treatment, (2) special service with less intensive treatment and (3)
diagnostic or advice service only. Each case, however, is given individual consideration,
and treatment is designed to suit the particular needs of the case. Close
co-operation has been maintained with both the school medical and educational
services, and special tribute is paid to the work undertaken in this connection by the
Council's district care organisers.
The clinic does not restrict its activities to clinical work. It is also interested
in the dissemination of knowledge of the aims and methods of child guidance.
Monthly case discussions are held which are attended by teachers, care committees
and social workers, and members of various professional groups. In addition
discussions are arranged for special groups, and lectures outside the clinic are given
by members of the clinic staff.
The following tables show the sources of reference of the cases, and the reasons for reference:—
Source of reference. | Reasons for reference. | ||
---|---|---|---|
Head teachers | 34 | Backwardness | 31 |
District organisers | 87 | Nervousness | 30 |
Parents, relatives and friends | 23 | Stealing and lying | 30 |
Hospitals | 13 | Lying | 2 |
Invalid Children's Aid Association | 6 | Enuresis | 24 |
Private doctors | 3 | Unmanageable | 19 |
Probation officer | 5 | Temper outbursts | 9 |
Charity organisations | 3 | Speech difficulties | 6 |
Barbican Mission to Jews | 3 | Truanting and wandering | 4 |
Parent's employer | 1 | Sex difficulties | 4 |
Bermondsey Medical Mission | 3 | Night terrors and fears | 1 |
Welfare centres | 2 | Lack of concentration | 4 |
Magistrate | 1 | Screaming fits | 1 |
Orphanages | 1 | Depression | 1 |
Fulham child guidance clinic | 1 | Vocation guidance and psychological tests | 4 |
Scout master | 1 | ||
St. Margaret's day nursery | 1 | Sleeping difficulties | 2 |
Children's house, Bow | 1 | Sleep walking | 2 |
St. Pancras dispensary | 1 | Word blindness | 1 |
Juvenile employment exchange | 1 | Admission to Northampton home | 2 |
- | Fears about school | 2 | |
Total | 191 | Advice re placement | 2 |
- | Advice re management | 1 | |
Begging | 1 | ||
Refusal to attend school | 1 | ||
Quarrelsome | 1 | ||
Heart attacks | 1 | ||
Asthma | 1 | ||
Incontinence | 1 | ||
Constipation | 1 | ||
Restlessness | 1 | ||
Puts everything in his mouth | 1 | ||
Total | 191 |