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London County Council
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COUNCIL, 1934
VOL. III (Part II)
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL MEDICAL OFFICER FOR THE YEAR 1934.
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.
The progress of the school medical service and the improvement in the
condition of the school children of London during His Majesty's reign.
In recording the work of the school medical service each year it is inevitable
that comparison should be made with the past. As this report will appear during
the Jubilee celebrations it is appropriate that a brief record should be made of the
changes and improvements which have taken place in the health of the school children
during His Majesty's reign. His Majesty has abundantly shown his concern and
affection for the nation's children and in particular for the school children of London.
One of the most unforgettable events in connection with the Coronation festivities
was the fete on 30th June, 1911, at the Crystal Palace, where their Majesties entertained
one hundred thousand children from the elementary schools of London. The
children of those children are now in the schools.
It is fitting to note that the organisation and growth of care for the children's
health in the London schools are exactly contemporaneous with the reign.
Preparatory work had been done throughout the previous reign, but it was not
until the year of His Majesty's accession that the school medical service of London
took shape, and the gradual growth began of facilities for attending to the children's
health which, step by step, has produced such an improvement as the early pioneers
of the work did not dream could be attained in their lifetime.
It was not until His Majesty had ascended the throne that the first school
treatment centre in London was opened in Hampstead in 1910. Tn 1911 provision
existed (excluding dental treatment) for the treatment of 27,647 children. In
1934 there were 74 treatment centres and provision was made (again excepting
dental treatment) for 167,910 children.
In 1900 the School Board for London by special resolution put on record their
grave concern that 96 per cent. of scholarship children were found with advanced
dental decay. At that time nothing could be done about it, as there was no provision
for dental treatment and no power to provide it. In 1910 the first dental
centre was opened. Now, there is provision for the treatment of 150,000 children
annually, and only 4 per cent. of the scholarship candidates are found with advanced
dental decay.
The growth in the provision for dental treatment is shown in the diagram
(fig. 1) on page 23.
In 1910 there were 68 school nurses. In 1920 these had increased to 285 in
number and in 1934 to 380.
The effect of the nurses' patient and unremitting work is shown in the improvement
in the appearance and cleanliness of the children. In 1912, 39.5 per cent. of
the children in the schools were infected by parasites, in 1920 this percentage was
reduced to 13.8 and in 1934 to 4.5.
Ringworm of the scalp, formerly one of the greatest scourges of school children,
is now rarely found. In 1911 there were 6,214 new cases of this disease, in 1920
there were 3,983, but in 1934 only 265.
In 1912 the proportion of children with subnormal nutrition in London was 12.8
per cent. By 1934 it had been reduced to 4.6 per cent.; but these figures do not
tell the whole story of improvement, for the children now returned as subnormal
(5)