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

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London County Council 1950

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

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102
older age groups ; increased incidence in the younger age groups accounted in the
main for increases in the figures for lung disease (not tuberculous), orthopaedic defects
and anaemia.
Nutrition

The classification of general condition as found at routine medical inspections was:—

A—GoodB—FairC—Poor
%%%
194742.054.33.7
194840.856.03.2
194941.855.13.1
195046.350.92.8

The percentages of children referred for treatment or observation on account of nutrition were :—

1947194819491950
%%%%
Referred for
(1) Treatment1.11.01.01.0
(2) Observation0.50.50.70.7
Total1.61.51.71.7

These figures show a fairly stable fraction.
An analysis of height and weight measurements made during the year showed
no significant deviations from those of the 1949 survey, (Council publication No.
3692/1950) which revealed substantial improvement on pre-war figures, and was
summarised in the 1949 Annual Report.
Cleanliness

Percentages of children found to have vermin in the hair at routine inspections during 1950, with corresponding figures for 1947, 1948 and 1949, follow :—

1947194819491950
EntrantsBoys0.70.30.20.2
Girls1.50.70.40.2
7 years oldBoys0.90.40.30.1
Girls2.11.20.40.3
11 years oldBoys0.90.40.20.2
Girls2.31.00.70.4
All agesBoys0.70.30.20.1
Girls1.80.90.50.3

The improvement noted in 1949 was maintained in 1950. Naturally, the personal
hygiene of pupils is shown at its best at routine inspections as parents are notified in
advance of the day of inspection. Even so the results year by year are strictly
comparable and the table below, showing an improvement in the percentage of
verminous children found at the nurses' monthly inspections, confirms the results
of the routine medical inspections :—

Routine personal hygiene inspections by nurses

Total number of inspectionsNumber found to be verminousPercentage found to be verminous
1947194819491950
Infants480,92513,1214.73.93.42.7
Boys (aged 7 yrs. and over)446,6807,7402.5211.91.7
Girls (aged 7 yrs. and over)501,17825,1517.56.46.15.0
Total1,428,78346,0124.94.23.83.2