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 1951
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
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92
defective teeth continued the upward trend noted last year. A more detailed
commentary will be found in the report of the Chief Dental Officer (page 110).
Vision
Statistics of the standard of visual acuity of pupils tested at routine inspections
are contained in the table below:—
| 1948 % | 1949 % | 1950 % | 1951 % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 year old | Boys | 79.2 | 78.2 | 78.3 | 77.8 |
| Girls | 78.2 | 76.5 | 76.3 | 76.7 | |
| 11 year old | Boys | 81.7 | 80.1 | 80.9 | 80.3 |
| Girls | 78.1 | 76.9 | 77.9 | 77.0 | |
| 1948 % | 1949 | 1950 | 1951 % | ||
| Leavers | Boys | 80°9 | 79.7 | 80.1 | 80.7 |
| Girls | 76.7 | 76 0 | 76.5 | 761 | |
| Other ages | Boys | 81.2 | 77.4 | 78.8 | 79.8 |
| Girls | 76.4 | 73.4 | 75.2 | 75.0 | |
A further table shows the percentage of children referred for treatment of defective vision:—
| 1948 % | 1949 % | 1950 % | Already wearing spectacles | 1951 Percentage not wearing spectacles | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 year old | Boys | 7.4 | 6.8 | 7.2 | 0.7 | 6.3 | 7.0 |
| Girls | 7.4 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 0.8 | 6.7 | 7.5 | |
| 11 year old | Boys | 8.9 | 9.3 | 8.4 | 2.1 | 6.5 | 8.6 |
| Girls | 11.1 | 10.4 | 10.0 | 2.6 | 7.4 | 10.0 | |
| Leavers | Boys | 9.5 | 9.3 | 9.2 | 2.8 | 5.8 | 8.6 |
| Girls | 12.2 | 12.4 | 10.8 | 3.8 | 7.5 | 11.3 | |
| Other ages | Boys | 9.8 | 9.3 | 8.5 | 2.0 | 5.3 | 7.3 |
| Girls | 12.0 | 12.0 | 10.8 | 3.4 | 7.8 | 11.2 |
A proportion of those referred for treatment of defective vision were already
wearing spectacles. This proportion rose from one-tenth at age 7 to about one-third
at age 15. The higher total percentages of children referred for treatment at older
ages were thus almost wholly due to the need for adjustment of lenses with the passage
of time.
The two tables above show that, in 1951, the incidence of defective vision and
the percentage of pupils referred for treatment of defective vision remained fairly
stable compared with the preceding years. As experienced over many years the
recorded incidence of defective vision was greater among girls than boys.
Squint was most prevalent in the entrant group falling to an insignificant level
in the leaver group. The percentage of pupils of all ages referred for treatment of
squint was 0.5 per cent. compared with 0.9 per cent. in 1950, 1.1 per cent. in 1949
and 1.0 per cent. in 1948.
Co-operation
of parents
and care
committee
The percentage attendance of parents at routine inspections showed that their
co-operation, especially for the earlier age groups, was quite good. Care committee
representatives attended about 94 per cent. of the routine inspections, except for the
"leaver" and "other ages" groups. These latter include the grammar and technical
schools where the committees do not function.
Choice of
employment
Children advised against particular forms of employment formed 17.6 per cent.
of both sexes examined, the highest proportion recorded in the last few years. This
increased figure is due apparently to the more closely defined categories of contraindications,
as comparison of separate classifications does not support the view that
there has been a real deterioration in the standard of school leavers.