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
Edmonton 1920
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Edmonton]
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The schedule of family income adopted by the Committee is as follows, after rent and fares have been deducted:—
| £ | s. | d. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 persons | 1 | 13 | 0 |
| 5 „ | 1 | 19 | 0 |
| 6 „ | 2 | 4 | 9 |
| 7 „ | 2 | 9 | 9 |
| 8 „ | 2 | 13 | 11 |
| 9 „ | 2 | 17 | 9 |
| 10 „ | 3 | 0 | 9 |
With reference to the above scale, if it were shown that hardship would be
caused by adherence to the regulations of the Committee, special consideration
would be given.
The following are comparative figures per week of the meals supplied to school children during the months of October and December, 1920
| Breakfasts. | Dinners. | |
|---|---|---|
| October | 30 | 554 |
| December | 151 | 2074 |
The great increase in the number of meals supplied was due to the growth
of unemployment in the District.
MENTALLY DEFECTIVE CHILDREN.
The County Council is "the Local Authority" under the Mental Deficiency
Act of 1913, which came into force on 1st April, 1914. The "local education
authority " is the Edmonton Education Committee, in so far as my Council
may have transferred their powers under the Act to that Committee.
Your certifying officers, Dr. Strong and myself, on receipt of information
from the head teachers, summon the child and mother for prolonged examination
and enquiry, lasting for an hour, or over, in each case. We are thus enabled
to answer, more or less, the 68 questions in Schedule "F." It concludes with
the treatment recommended, and the child is placed as fit for one of four
classes:-
1. An ordinary public elementary school.
2. A special class for dull or backward children.
3. A special school (day or residential).
4. Unsuitable for a special school; ineducable.