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 1963
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
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The Ministry was informed that 300,383 children in Council maintained schools took milk on the selected day compared with 308,095 in September 1962. Of 29,043 children present in independent schools, 20,883 had milk under the scheme. The percentages for the several types of school for the corresponding days were:
| 1959 | 1960 | 1961 | 1962 | 1963 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Secondary | 69.23 | 66.05 | 63.12 | 61.08 | 59.64 |
| Primary | 96.82 | 96.32 | 96.51 | 96.01 | 95.42 |
| Day special | 98.83 | 98.47 | 99.18 | 97.32 | 97.26 |
| Nursery | 98.64 | 98.51 | 98.67 | 97.86 | 96.84 |
| Boarding | 98.12 | 98.51 | 97.52 | 98.41 | 97.42 |
| Independent | 76.67 | 74.60 | 77.66 | 74.62 | 71.90 |
Vision
Visual acuity standards expressed as percentages of the numbers of children whose eyes
were tested are set out in the following table.
In general the referral rate for treatment is fairly consistent throughout the age range, i.e.,
development of defective vision is progressive with age, since those found to have defective
vision at earlier examination and provided with spectacles will be excluded from this side
of the table at subsequent examinations. For children already wearing spectacles the proportions
referred for treatment increase with age, doubtless for correction of refraction.
Of the children medically inspected, 0.6 per cent, were noted for treatment of squint, the same as in 1960, 1961 and 1962. The percentage ranged from 1.2 in the entrant group to 0.2 in the leaver group.
| Age group | Boys | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Not wearing spectacles | Wearing spectacles | |||||||
| 6/6 | 6/9 | 6/12 or worse | Referred for treatment | 6/6 | 6/9 | 6/12 or worse | Referred for treatment | |
| Under 7 | 85.1 | 8.3 | 4.8 | 5.8 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 0.7 |
| 7 | 79.9 | 11.0 | 6.0 | 6.2 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 1.3 |
| 8 | 79.9 | 9.2 | 6.1 | 6.2 | 1.4 | 1.6 | 1.8 | 2.0 |
| 9 | 80.5 | 8.7 | 5.7 | 5.7 | 2.4 | 11 | 1.6 | 1.9 |
| 10 | 81.5 | 6.2 | 7.6 | 7.4 | 1.9 | 1.2 | 1.6 | 1.5 |
| 11 | 80.3 | 5.3 | 5.7 | 5.7 | 3.6 | 2.3 | 2.8 | 3.3 |
| 12 | 79.6 | 5.5 | 6.7 | 6.4 | 3.7 | 2.0 | 2.5 | 3.2 |
| 13 | 77.6 | 5.6 | 7.6 | 7.1 | 3.8 | 2.6 | 2.8 | 3.5 |
| 14 | 79.0 | 4.7 | 6.0 | 5.8 | 6.0 | 2.0 | 2.3 | 5.0 |
| 15 and over | 76.8 | 4.2 | 5.9 | 5.6 | 7.1 | 2.8 | 3.2 | 4.7 |
| Total | 79.3 | 6.4 | 6.1 | 6.0 | 3.9 | 2.0 | 2.3 | 3.1 |
81
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