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 1925
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Croydon]
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Clnic for Mentally Defective Children.
73 children were examined at the Clinic held at the Town Hall, this involving 79 examinations, with the following results:—
| 1.—(a) Certified as mentally defective | 25 |
| —(b) Confirmed as mentally defective | 4 |
| 2.—Found to be dull and backward | 32 |
| (retarded 1—2 years, 6; retarded 2—3 years, 18; over 3 years, 8.) | |
| 3.—Found to be of normal intelligence | 2 |
| 4.—Referred for re-examination | 10 |
| These cases were disposed of as follows, the reference number corresponding with the classification used above:— | |
| 1.—Mental defectives:— | |
| (a) & (b) (i) Recommended for special day school | 12 |
| (ii) Recommended for residential schools | 2 |
| (iii) Referred to local Control Authority as ineducable | 5 |
| (iv) For supervision at home | 6 |
| (v) To continue at special day school | 4 |
| 2.—Dull and backward children— | |
| 28 | |
| (b) To continue at ordinary school | 4 |
| 3.—Normal children— | |
| To continue at ordinary school | 2 |
| 4.—Diagnosis deferred— | |
| (i) To be re-examined after physical treatment | 10 |
Occupation Centre.
The classes for low-grade mentally defective children and
adolescents were continued throughout the year at the Occupation
Centre opened at Grangewood by the Mental Deficiency Committee
in 1924. The Occupation Centre deals with three groups of
defectives—children of or under school age, of whom some 24 are
on the register; boys over 16, of whom 4 have attended; and girls
over 16, of whom 10 have attended. The younger children attend
for both morning and afternoon sessions on five days a week, and
receive the same mid-day meal as the children attending the special
school for the mentally defective, held on the first floor of the same
building; those aged over 16 attend, the girls for three and the
boys for two afternoon sessions per week. Further details will be
found in the appropriate section of the Public Health report. It
need only be said here that the effect of the Occupation Centre on
those in attendance has been most beneficial, and that it is a most
valuable adjunct to the work of the Education Committee.