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 1953
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
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107
During the year 178,330 medical re-inspections were carried out, 62,708 in respect
of pupils noted as 'nutrition' cases (see page 102) and 115,622 in respect of other defects.
Choice of employment
At the general medical inspections of pupils about to leave school, note is made by the
school doctors of any physical condition in the pupil which would contra-indicate a
particular type of employment, and this information is passed on to the Youth Employment
Service.
Pupils advised against particular forms of employment formed 16.8 per cent. of
both sexes examined. Eye strain, and normally acute vision, followed by heavy manual
work headed the list of contra-indications for both sexes. Next came normal colour
vision (for boys only), exposure to bad weather, and prolonged standing or quick
movement.
The following table gives the main contra-indications disclosed at the medical inspections of the 27,768 school leavers during 1953:
| Contra-indications | Boys | Girls |
|---|---|---|
| Occupations, involving: | ||
| Heavy manual work | 273 | 291 |
| Sedentary work | 20 | 26 |
| Indoor work | 10 | 11 |
| Exposure to bad weather | 167 | 215 |
| Wide changes of temperatures | 85 | 78 |
| Work in damp atmosphere | 142 | 133 |
| Work in dusty atmosphere | 136 | 96 |
| Much stooping | 28 | 41 |
| Climbing | 75 | 55 |
| Work near moving machinery or moving vehicles | 59 | 61 |
| Prolonged standing, much walking or quick movement from place to place | 129 | 199 |
| Eye strain | 720 | 851 |
| Normal vision | 812 | 684 |
| Normal colour vision | 249 | 9 |
| Normal use of hands | 10 | 11 |
| Exposure of hands to moisture, chemicals, etc. | 19 | 31 |
| Handling or preparation of food | 59 | 81 |
| Normal hearing | 78 | 50 |
Employment of children
New bye-laws, governing the employment of children came into operation on 1st
December, 1952. The bye-laws require, inter alia, that the school medical officer shall
certify that the employment of the child will not be prejudicial to his health and physical
development and will not render him unfit to obtain the proper benefit of the education
provided for him. Such a certificate is valid only (i) during a period of six months
from the date of its issue by the school medical officer, and (ii) for the class of employment
referred to in the certificate.
During the year 3,984 medical examinations were carried out in respect of the issue
of employment certificates.
Children under five years of age
At the end of 1953 there were 158 nursery classes with accommodation for approximately
4,740 children aged 3 to 5 years. In addition to a mid-day meal, these children
had one-third of a pint of milk daily and cod liver oil and other vitamin preparations;
medicaments containing iron were also prescribed for those who required them.
Nursery class children attend during the ordinary school hours of primary schools, but
nursery school children attend between 8.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. and have breakfast
(when necessary), dinner and tea, and two-thirds of a pint of milk daily in addition
to other supplements supplied to the nursery class children.