London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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London County Council 1934

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]

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88
In addition to the above, 148 examinations were made of scholars (49 male,
99 female) with a view to determining their fitness to continue to hold awards,
and of these 8 (2 male, 6 female) were found to be unfit.
Re-examinations totalling 1,792, were made of entrants, scholars, etc., who
were referred at the first examination for treatment for one or more remediable
defects.
The total number of examinations was 9.231.
Cases
specially
referred
There were also referred to the public health department 3,513 special cases in
which medical advice was required. This figure includes 3,079 teachers (599 men,
2,480 women) and 434 schoolkeepers, cleaners, etc. (107 men, 327 women).
In regard to recommendations governing sick leave to teachers, 2,015 or 71 per
cent. of the teachers concerned were over 40 years of age; this shows a decrease of
1 per cent. on that of the previous year.
Health of
teachers.
In connection with these cases, 18 home visits were paid during the year.
The records for the years 1930 to 1934 (inclusive), of the deaths and premature
retirements on account of ill-health, occurring among the teaching staff in
elementary, excluding special, schools, have been specially examin ed by Dr. J. G.
Duncan and Dr. A. C. Williams.
Deaths
of teachers.
The causes of death and age at death are set out below:-

Table 53.

DiseaseAgeTotal
20-2930-3940-4950-5455-5960-
MFMFMFMFMFMFMF
Respiratory system-
Tuberculous321142122---117
Non-tuberculous212655414211716
Influenza-----3-------3
Organic nervous disease-21321-44314817
Gastro-intestinal disease---3533-23331312
Circulatory diseases-1215114456251828
Septicaemia-----5-2-----7
Cancer, etc.---12841539-2935
Accidents2-22144-42--138
Kidney--111111312-84
Operations (site unknown)-1-11321-2--38
*Miscellaneous-1-2211121--56
Cause unknown---23643334-1414
Total778193253293729341415119165
Deaths at all ages-Yearly average23.833.0

* One ease each of anæmia, debility, scarlet fever, streptococcal infection, diphtheria and
lymphatic leukaemia, two cases of diabetes and three of death following childbirth.
In 19 cases the teachers died from operations for known conditions and these
have been entered under the appropriate heading.