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
Hendon 1946
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hendon]
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26
previous year. The pupils examined were a cross-section of
the school population so that the findings can be regarded as
significant.
| Number of Pupils Inspected. | A, (Excellent). | (B Normal). | C (Slightly sub-normal). | D (Bad). | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. % | No. % | No. % | No. % | |||||
| 6273 | 1660 | 26.46 | 3965 | 63.21 | 630 | 10.04 | 18 | .29 |
| 1946. | ||||||||
| 7670 | 1'886 | 24.59 | 4964 | 64.72 | 794 | 10.35 | 26 | .34 |
The schemes for the provision of milk and meals in
schools have in my opinion contributed very largely to the
maintenance of nutritional standards. All children are now
in receipt of at least one-third of a pint of milk daily, which
can be increased on medical recommendations, and 6,584
children were in receipt of meals at the end of the year. When
a dietary is restricted because of economic or other factors,
first-class (animal) proteins, a sufficiency of which is essential
to optimum development, is likely to suffer the first and
greatest reduction. In view of this, and despite the satisfactory
nutritional standard prevailing, it behoves those concerned
with child health to maintain a careful watch over the
general condition and nutritional standards of the children
for whom they are responsible.
OPHTHALMIC TREATMENT:
The eye-sight of each child is examined at periodic
medical inspections and those suffering from any defect, however
slight, are referred for further examination and treatment
to the Ophthalmic Surgeon. If, as a result of his
examination, glasses are considered necessary these can be
obtained free of charge under the Council's scheme, which