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
Barking 1912
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Barking]
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The figures for visual defects only for the last five years expressed as percentages of children examined were:—
| Seniors. | ||
|---|---|---|
| Boys. | Girls. | |
| 1908 | 20.7 | 26.8 |
| 1909 | 9.5 | 14.1 |
| 1910 | 12.5 | 28.8 |
| 1911 | 24.4 | 30.1 |
| 1912 | 10.8 | 15.6 |
No significance can be placed on these figures as they certainly
suggest that the comprehensive nature of the survey
must have varied from year to year.
Hearing and Ear Disease.
Amongst the boys in 1.45 per cent the hearing was defective,
and in 0.73 per cent., that is half the total number, there
was a purulent and offensive discharge.
Amongst the girls the percentage was 0.84 and 1.31 respectively.
The percentage of those in whom the hearing was
below normal was very low, and I can hardly believe that it
fairly represents the actual number. The test. applied was the
whispered voice.
In the five years there appears to have been little change
in the number reported as suffering from defect in this area.
The actual figures are given in the table at the end of the
report. (Table IV.).
Other Conditions.
The number of defects in the remaining sub-divisions are
small, and comparisons would be hardly justifiable. Unfortunately
there are no definite records of the distribution of Tuberculosis
amongst the children.