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
Croydon 1915
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Croydon]
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GENERAL RESULTS OP INSPECTION.
HEIGHTS AND WEIGHTS.
The following table gives the averages of the children examined at three age periods in ten of the schools in Croydon :—
| Age. | Average Height in Inches. | Average Weight in Pounds. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boys. | Girls. | Boys. | Girls. | |
| 5 | 40.15 | 40.55 | 39.7 | 39.7 |
| 8 | 46.75 | 45.65 | 52.9 | 53.0 |
| 13 | 54.00 | 35.00 | 77.2 | 75.o |
WANT OF CLEANLINESS.
Of 7,396 children examined, 30 had vermin in their heads,
,, ,, 854 „ nits ,, „
„ ,, 152 „ dirty heads apart from vermin
Proportion of children with head vermin = 40 per cent.
,, „ „ nits „ 11'5 „
Of 7,396 children, 12 had vermin of the body, = '16 per cent., and 278
had dirty bodies.
CLEANSING STATION.
During the year 27 children have been cleansed on account of
verminous conditions of scalp or body or both.
CLOTHING.
Children with insufficient clothing = 135 = i-8 per cent.
„ dirty „ „ 176 „ 2 3 „
,, defective footgear „ 198 „ 2-6 ,,
MALNUTRITION.
346 cases occurred = 4"6 per cent.
Per centage for 1914 = 3 per cent.
The improvement upon the 10 % of 1913 is therefore well maintained.
EYE DISEASES.
External eye diseases were present in 168 cases
1,076 children had sub-normal vision.
Reference to the ophthalmic specialist of eye cases his been
systematically made when necessary, as in previous years.