Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Erith]
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fects of the children are early ascertained, treated, if possible,
or recommended for treatment to suitable
Institutions.
Four groups of children were medically examined
during the year. The absentees on those occasions were
visited later, so that no child escaped medical notice.
They were selected thus:—
I.—Entrants, 5—6 years.
II.—8 years.
III.—11 years.
IV.—13 years or leavers.
For number of children inspected, see Table I.
Findings of Medical Inspection
A Review of the facts disclosed by the inspection of
the children is here given in a short form. Table II. at
the end of the Report gives fuller details.
Uncleanliness.
The number of children found with verminous heads
or unclean bodies or clothing is a very small one, and
only amounts to 2.2 per cent. of the children examined.
It is very gratifying to us to think that our labours in
this direction are not altogether in vain. I believe that
this improved condition is greatly due to the energetic
work done by both Nurses in visiting the schools with
such regularity. No doubt this accounts for the low percentage
of cases found on my Routine Inspection of the
children. You will notice in the summary of the Nurse's
work we have had 171 cases excluded for vermin during
the whole year (a percentage of 1.3 per cent. of the children
examined by them), many of these, as I have
already stated, being old familiar ones. The exclusion
cases are sent to me for inspection at the School Clinic.
Many of them after such a warning have been cleansed
and are fit to return to school straight away. Others are
offered advice, and many require severe remonstrances in
writing to their parents. The majority of the children
are so cleansed and improved that they are able to return