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 1933
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Barking]
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(5) FINDINGS OF MEDICAL INSPECTION.
Table II on pages 36-38, gives in detail a return of defects found during the
course of routine and special inspection at ordinary elementary schools and at the Clinics.
(a) Malnutrition.—Out of the total of 5,284 children examined at routine inspections,
three suffered from malnutrition to such an extent as to require treatment.
This figure is very important, and I know will be of interest to members of the
Authority. Its significance is this;—the 5,284 children examined were chosen for
examination solely by the reason of their age group, and not for any other reason whatsoever.
These children, therefore, so far as is practical are representative children.
There were, of course, many children under observation for malnutrition who
were granted free milk or free meals by the Authority.
(b)
| 1932 | 1933 | |
|---|---|---|
| Number of examinations of children in the schools by School Nurses | 32,419 | 37,762 |
| Number of individual children found unclean | 1,210 | 1,571 |
| Number of uncleanliness findings | 1,862 | 2,184 |
During the year, 92 children were cleansed by the Local Authority, and in five cases
legal proceedings were taken under Section 43 of the Education Act, 1921.
(c) Minor Ailments and Diseases of the Skin.—Few cases of Minor Ailments present
themselves at routine medical inspections. Such cases are usually discovered earlier by
teachers and School Nurses, and are treated at the Minor Ailments Clinics.
The Minor Ailments Clinics also deal effectively with cases of minor diseases of the
skin such as impetigo, ringworm of the body, scabies, and any other skin disease which
presents itself.
(d) Visual Defects and External Eye Disease.—Defects of vision found in school
children continue to increase. In 1933, we had an increase of 131 cases over the previous
year. I drew your attention to this increase in visual defects last year, and also in 1931.
The time has come for you to consider this matter of defective vision as one requiring
further action both from the point of view of prevention, and treatment. I recommend
the appointment of an Ophthalmic Surgeon.
During the year, there was one operation for squint which was carried out by private
arrangement at the Royal London Ophthalmic Hospital, Moorfields, E.C.
Cases of external eye disease are to a large extent dealt with at the Minor Ailments
Clinics. 187 such cases received treatment at the Clinics during the year.