View report page

education and treatment of maladjusted children living in their own homes. A psychiatrist
visits the school frequently and takes part in discussions and case conferences,
while care committee workers visit the children's homes. Even in the short time that
the school has been functioning its success has been evident.
Residential schools and homes
In accordance with the Memorandum prepared by the Home Office on 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 2,935 children, four approved schools with a total accommodation
of 468, two remand homes with accommodation for 142 children, and a number of
other smaller establishments—reception centres, small homes, family homes and aftercare
hostels. At the large establishments a visiting medical officer, appointed by the
Council attended for routine medical examinations, and also accepted the children on
his national health service 'list'. Periodic visits were made by senior medical and nursing
officers from the County Hall. Arrangements were made for the dental treatment of the
children, and visits were made by the Council's psychiatrists.
Research and investigation
For the last eight years a record has been kept of the health, growth and development
of 6,000 children in all parts of Great Britain, born in one week of March, 1946. This
survey, which is undertaken by a Joint Committee consisting of the Institute of Child
Health, the Society of Medical Officers of Health and the Population Investigation
Committee, was continued in 1954, and health visitors again supplied the relevant
information in respect of London children in the survey.
Professor Arnold Sorsby, Director of the Research Unit of the Royal Eye Hospital
was given facilities to carry out an investigation into the changes occurring during the
normal growth of the eyes of 2,000 London school children.
An investigation was started into the nutritional state of the children in one E.S.N,
school, to determine whether the provision of breakfasts at the school would assist
these children to overcome their lack of vitality, general clumsiness of movement and
poor muscular co-ordination.
Dr. W. J. J. de Sauvage Nolting, a psychiatrist at a mental hospital at the Dolder,
Holland, was granted permission to consult the Council's records of the dates of birth
of educationally sub-normal children born since 1942. He wished to discover whether
there was any interrelation between the monthly birth rate of educationally sub-normal
children and the vitamin C content of the blood of mothers during pregnancy. The
diet of the mothers, unless supplemented, would vary in vitamin C content according
to the season of the year. In England, mothers are provided with vitamin supplements
during pregnancy and the intention was, therefore, to compare the rate of births month
by month of educationally sub-normal children in this country with the monthly birth
rate in Holland, where extra vitamins are not supplied.
Permission was granted to Dr. Fisch, of the Audiology Unit, Royal National Throat,
Nose and Ear Hospital, to conduct hearing tests of children suffering from cerebral
palsy attending schools for the physically handicapped.
The Council, together with other local authorities, co-operated in a follow-up,
sponsored by the Ministry of Health, of children who had attended the Audiology
Unit at 309 Gray's Inn Road.
117