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
Acton 1911
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Acton]
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99
Nutrition.
During the summer months of 1911, the examination of
children who were eight years of age was commenced. The work
was undertaken at this season of the year in order to detect
cases of malnutrition or early disease which would specially benefit
by a country holiday, and the names of these children were added
to the list kept by the teachers to be forwarded to the organisers
of the Country Holiday Fund.
It will be generally agreed that malnutrition may be due
to many causes, among which poverty, improper feeding, and the
economic conditions of the district must be considered.
It is interesting to note how closely the figures showing heights and weights from the Central and Southfield Road Schools correspond, and this might be expected, as the children attending these schools are derived from homes where conditions of housing, food supply and parental care are very similar.
| Juuior Schools. | No. of children aged 8 examined. | Height in inches. | Weight in lbs. |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Acton Boys | 78 | 48 | 50.9 |
| „ „ Girls | 79 | 47.6 | 49 |
| Southfield Road Boys | 33 | 49.1 | 55.9 |
| „ „ Girls | 38 | 49.8 | 54.2 |
| Central Junior Boys | 35 | 50.9 | 57.3 |
| „ „ Girls | 42 | 49.8 | 53.2 |
It is probable that the actual difference is even greater than
that shown by statistics, as the South Acton figures are often
raised by the presence of heavy, large-boned children, whose