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
Enfield 1935
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Enfield]
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Thirty-seven percent. of the children examined were vaccinated. The comparative figure's for the last five years are as follows :—
| 1931 | 1932 | 1933 | 1934 | 1935 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of children vaccinated | 42 | 42 | 37 | 37 | 37 |
DEFECTS FOUND AT ROUTINE MEDICAL INSPECTION.
Uncleanliness.—Of 3,436 children examined, 7 were found to
have vermin in their heads and 182 had nits.
The following is a comparative table for the last five years :—
| 1931 | 1932 | 1933 | 1934 | 1935 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of children examined | 2,790 | 3,087 | 2,869 | 3,378 | 3,436 |
| Number of children with verminous heads | 64 | 54 | 21 | 15 | 7 |
| Percentage of children with verminous heads | 2.3 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 0.2 |
| Number of children found to have nits | 328 | 281 | 224 | 279 | 182 |
| Percentage of children found to have nits | 11.7 | 9.1 | 7.8 | 8.2 | 5.0 |
These figures indicate that the improvement in cleanliness
apparent since 1931 has been maintained. The conditions found
consisted of nits and vermin in the head ; in no case during the year
was a child found to have body vermin.
Nutrition.—At the end of 1934 the Chief Medical Officer of the
Board of Education requested that nutrition in children should be
classified under the four headings:—
A Excellent.
B Normal.
C Slightly sub-normal.
D Bad.
The number of children examined in routine inspection in 1935
was 3,436 and these were classified as follows :—
A 1.1 percent.
B 66.6
C 30.6
D 1.7
The estimation of the degree of nutrition or malnutrition varies
with the standard adopted by the examining doctor, and also to
some extent with the condition of the child upon the day of examination.
It is very difficult therefore to make an accurate report
on this subject.
Skin Diseases.—Eighteen cases were seen; seventeen required
treatment and one was kept under observation.
Ear Disease.—Nineteen cases of middle ear disease were found;