London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Hendon 1935

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hendon]

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95
being chosen is that they both contain a high proportion of first
class proteid which is the element of diet most likely to be lacking
where the family circumstances fall below a certain level, though
it must be borne in mind that sub-nutrition is not necessarily allied
to poverty.
It is interesting to note the figures which are contained in
Table II.B. at the appendix of this report from which it will be
seen that out of 4,709 children examined at routine medical
inspections only 17 could be regarded as badly nourished.
In addition to these found at routine examinations 160 children
were found, as a result of special examinations, to be suffering
from varying degrees of sub-nutrition, where the condition
appeared to be clue to a faulty dietary, advice was given and if
considered necessary additional nourishment was prescribed and
during the year 285 grants for additional nourishment were made
and 170 children received this additional nourishment, free of
charge, where the economic circumstances of the family fell within
the prescribed scale.
UNCLEANLINESS.
From Board of Education Statistical Table VI. it will be seen
that 40,217 inspections were made by the school nurses as regards
uncleanliness and 894 children were found to fall below a reasonable
standard of cleanliness.
Notices were sent in all cases drawing attention to the condition
of the child and it was only necessary in one case for a
child to be cleansed under official arrangements. No legal proceedings
were taken in this connection.
MINOR AILMENTS AND DISEASES OF THE SKIN.
Minor ailments are treated daily by the health visitors at
all the permanent health centres and in addition doctors' sessions
are held weekly and in the case of the Watling Centre, they are
held twice each week owing to the large number of children
requiring treatment.
It will be seen that of the 4,648 defects which required treatment
during the year, 4,265 were treated at the health centres
and the remaining 383 were either referred to hospital or to a
private practitioner,