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 1950
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
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subjected to routine inspections earlier in the year is common, the element of duplication is constant and comparisons from year to year are valid. The percentages show a rising trend:—:
| 1947 | 1948 | 1949 | 1950 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| School population | 353,000 | 373,000 | 373,000 | 380,885 |
| Routine inspections | 143,535 | 158,533 | 162,169 | 172,428 |
| Percentages | 40.7 | 42.5 | 42.7 | 45.3 |
| Other inspections | 185,934 | 204,007 | 207,786 | 236,692 |
| Percentages | 52.7 | 54.7 | 55.7 | 62.1 |
The percentages of children seen at routine inspections, who were referred for treatment (other than for infestation or teeth) compared with the preceding years were:—
| Age Group and sex | 1947 | 1948 | 1949 | 1950 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nursery | Boys | 16.1 | 16.2 | 16.5 | 15.1 |
| Girls | 14.8 | 14.4 | 14.5 | 13.0 | |
| Entrants | Boys | 18.0 | 191 | 18.7 | 17.8 |
| Girls | 15.6 | 16.5 | 17.2 | 16.5 | |
| 7 years old | Boys | 19.4 | 21.8 | 21.6 | 20.4 |
| Girls | 21.2 | 21.2 | 20.6 | 19.7 | |
| 11 years old | Boys | 18.5 | 19.0 | 18.8 | 17.5 |
| Girls | 20.1 | 21.4 | 20.4 | 18.8 | |
| Leavers | Boys | 14.0 | 14.8 | 14.4 | 13.6 |
| Girls | 16.6 | 20.3 | 18.9 | 16.0 | |
| Other ages | Boys | 17.6 | 19.6 | 18.0 | 17.1 |
| Girls | 22.4 | 23.3 | 23.6 | 21.5 | |
| Total Boys and Girls* | 18.7 | 19.3 | 18.9 | 17.6 | |
* Excluding special schools and training colleges.
Despite rising standards the 1950 rates show reductions in every age group.
The following table shows the percentages of the principal defects in children of
all age groups inspected at routine inspections and referred for treatment or observation,
with comparable figures for 1947, 1948 and 1949:—
| 1947 | 1948 | 1949 | 1950 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| •Numbers examined | 142,064 | 156,304 | 160,071 | 169,742 |
| Skin diseases | 1.20 | 1.22 | 1.22 | 0.97 |
| External eye diseases | 0.67 | 0.61 | 0.58 | 0.57 |
| Defective hearing | 0.32 | 0.39 | 0.41 | 0.44 |
| Otitis media | 0.47 | 0.70 | 0.75 | 0.69 |
| Enlarged tonsils and adenoids | 7.61 | 8.16 | 8.91 | 8.98 |
| Defective speech | 0.43 | 0.53 | 0.62 | 0.60 |
| Enlarged cervical glands | 0.99 | 10.1 | 1 33 | 1 38 |
| Heart and circulation | 0.62 | 0.73 | 0.68 | 0.69 |
| Lung disease (not T.B.) | 1.32 | 1.30 | 1.44 | 1.62 |
| Orthopaedic defects | 4.02 | 4.67 | 4.66 | 4.84 |
| Defects of nervous system | 0.33 | 0.30 | 0.34 | 0.33 |
| Psychological defects | 0.42 | 0.72 | 0.75 | 0.70 |
| Anaemia | 0.31 | 0.29 | 0.31 | 0.36 |
*Excluding special schools and training colleges.
Comparing 1950 with 1949 the decrease in skin diseases was most marked in
entrant girls, 11 year old and leaver boys ; for psychological defects the decrease was
mainly in the entrant age groups ; reduced incidence of otitis media was seen in the