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 1936
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Croydon]
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206
Of all children examined at Routine Medical Inspection, in the
Entrant group 29.8 per cent. had enlarged tonsils; 2.1 per cent.
had adenoids alone; 14.5 per cent. enlarged tonsils and adenoids;
and 30.1 per cent. had enlargement of the submaxillary or cervical
glands. In the Intermediate group the respective percentages were
28.5 per cent., 0.8 per cent., 8.8 per cent., and 20.8 per cent.; and
in the Leaver group, 20.3 per cent., 0.3 per cent., 5.3 per cent., and
11.4 per cent. The percentages for the three groups in relation to
the total number of children examined, were 27.3 per cent., 1.3 per
cent., 10.6 per cent., and 22.9 per cent.
Table IV. gives in summary the percentage of Nose and Throat
defects and of enlarged glands in the various groups examined.
Table IV.
Summary.
| Group. | * Nose and Throat Defects. | Enlarged Glands. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boys. | Girls. | Boys. | Girls. | |
| Entrants | 50.1 | 48.6 | 29.9 | 30.4 |
| Intermediates | 41.9 | 39.2 | 23.5 | 17.8 |
| Leavers | 29.8 | 24.0 | 12.9 | 9.00 |
| Other Ages | 56.3 | 33.3 | 37.5 | 14.3 |
| * Does not include mouth breathers, but includes other defects of nose and throat. | ||||
Defective Hearing.
The commonest causes of deafness in children are middle ear
disease and adenoids. Routine medical inspection showed that 0.1
per cent. Entrants, 0.3 per cent. Intermediates, and 0.5 per cent.
Leavers in the children examined had defective hearing. The
report on the work done in the Ear Clinic is given on page 49.
Routine medical inspection findings showed in the Entrant
group 0.4 per cent. children defective, in the Intermediate group
0.7 per cent., and 0.4 in the Leaver group: figures very similar to
1935.
Speech Defects.
The special class is held twice weekly, and is conducted by two
qualified lady teachers. During 1936, 33 children attended. A
special report on the results of the class is given on page 57.