London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Croydon 1934
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Croydon]
This page requires JavaScript
| Group. | No. of Children Inspected | No. referred for treatment. | Percentage referred for treatment | Corresponding percentage for 1933. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entrants | ||||
| Intermediates | ||||
| Leavers | ||||
| Other Ages | 4 | |||
The fact that 13.0 per cent. of children examined shortly
after entering school at 5 years of age required treatment of some
kind is an adverse commentary upon the lack of any system of
medical and dental supervision of the pre-school child. To leave
medical and dental supervision in the hands of parents has been
proved repeatedly to be insufficient. Besides, the parent cannot
be expected to recognise those early departures from health
which, if dealt with promptly, are easily put right. When a
noticeable breakdown happens, the child is taken to a doctor,
who endeavours to remedy a condition which should never have
occurred. In other cases the study of cumulative departure from
normal is so insidious that irreparable consequences have supervened
before the parent takes any steps. Initial slight defects, if
unremedied, often lead to further defects as the child grows.