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122
Residential schools
In accordance with the Memorandum by the Home Office on the Conduct of Children's
Homes the public health department takes responsibility for the health of the children
in residential schools and other establishments under the direction of the Children's
Committee (see also page 61). There were seven residential establishments with accommodation
for 2,800 children, four approved schools with a total accommodation of
of 482, two remand homes with accommodation for 142 children, and a number
of other smaller establishments—reception centres, small homes, family homes and
after-care hostels. At the larger establishments a visiting medical officer, appointed
by the Council attended for routine medical examinations, and also took the children
on to his national health service 'list'. Periodic visits were made by senior medical
and nursing officers from County Hall. Arrangements were made for the dental treatment
of the children, and visits were made by the Council's psychiatrists.
Research and investigation
Dr. F. A. Nash, Medical Director of the Mass X-Ray service of the South West Metropolitan
Regional Hospital Board; Dr. H. C. Price, the Chest Physician for Fulham,
and Dr. L. E. Edwards of the Tuberculosis Research Office, United Nations World
Health Organisation, Copenhagen, were granted permission to use the school organisation
for the purpose of the tuberculin testing of 1,500 children in Fulham. In addition
to the investigation forming part of surveys which the W.H.O. are making in different
parts of the world, the findings would be of value as part of the tuberculosis control
work in the Borough of Fulham.
An investigation into the psychiatric disturbances occurring in diabetic children was
carried out by Dr. E.J. Anthony, senior lecturer in child psychiatry at Maudsley Hospital,
British Post-graduate Medical Federation, University of London, at the unit for diabetic
children at Hutton.
Dr. L. I. Woolf, of the Institute of Child Health, University of London, was granted
permission to investigate the incidence of phenylketonuria in children attending day
schools for the educationally sub-normal.
A cross sectional study of (i) the volume of the hands and feet, (ii) the length and
breadth of the hands and feet, and (iii) the development of the arches of the feet of
50 pupils in each of the age groups from 6 to 10 years, was carried out by Dr. P. Sylvester
of the Institute of Child Health, University of London.