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 1929
[Report of the School Medical Officer for Barking]
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There is, perhaps, nothing which limits a man's activity and tends to develop an inferiority complex than a feeling of awkwardness when in company at mealtimes, and in addition slovenly habits at the dinner table lay the foundations of dental trouble and of stomach diseases.
| School. | No. of children who do not return home for mid-day meal. | Whether facilities exist for heating of children's meals. | Whether facilities exist for the drying of children's clothes and boots. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Park Modern— | 25—40 | Yes | Yes | |
| C. of E. | Boys | — | No | School fires in winter only. |
| Girls | - | „ | „ | |
| Infants | — | „ | „ | |
| Ripple— | Boys | - | „ | „ |
| Girls | — | „ | „ | |
| Infants | — | „ | „ | |
| SS. Mary & Ethelburga | Mixed | 10 | Yes | „ |
| St. Joseph's | Infants | 25 | „ | |
| Gascoigne | Boys | - | No | „ |
| Girls | - | „ | „ | |
| Infants | - | „ | ||
| Westbury | Boys | - | „ | „ |
| Girls | - | „ | Yes—at Laundry | |
| Infants | - | „ | School fires in winter only. | |
| North Street— | Boys | 3 | „ | |
| Girls | — | „ | „ | |
| Infants | - | „ | „ | |
| Castle— | 25 • | Small stove in teachers private room. | School fires in winter only. | |
| Faircross— | All children stay at school for mid-day meal, the food being supplied from Municipal Kitchen | Yes | Yes | |
(4) MEDICAL INSPECTION.
Routine and special examinations, to be of any worth, must
be done well. On no account should more than twelve children be
seen in any hour at routine school medical inspection unless there is
some definite explanation or excuse. The average number of
inspections per hour should be in the neighbourhood of nine or ten.