London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Leyton 1945
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Leyton]
This page requires JavaScript
The average gain in weight of children between 1-2 years is 5-7 lbs., so that these gains appear to be at the lower limit of normality.
| Gain in weight during stay in Nursery. | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age on Admission. | 0-3 months. | 3-6 months. | 0-12 months. | ||
| Nursery A | 12-18 months | Aggregate Gain | 25 lb. 14 oz. | 23 lb. 6 oz. | 48 Ib. |
| No. of Children | 26 | 20 | 9 | ||
| Average Gain | 1 lb. | 1.17 Ib. | 5.3 lb. | ||
| Nursery B | 12-18 months | Aggregate Gain | 45 lb. | 24 lb. 8 oz. | 82 Ib. |
| No. of Children | 32 | 24 | 16 | ||
| Average Gain | 1.4 1b. | 1.34 Ib. | 5.12 Ib. | ||
| Nursery A | 18-24 months | Aggregate Gain | 22 lb. 6 oz. | 10 Ib. 13 oz. | 12 lb. l4oz. |
| No. of Children | 15 | 10 | 3 | ||
| Average Gain ... | 1.49 Ib. | 1.081b. | 4.29 lb. | ||
| Nursery B | 18-24 months | Aggregate Gain | 25 lb. 15 oz. | 27 lb. 5 oz. | 551b. |
| No. of Children | 27 | 20 | 11 | ||
| Average Gain | 96 lb. | 1.38 lb. | 5 lb. | ||
So far I have only attempted to review the progress of children
who were admitted to a nursery before they reached the age of two
years. I have done so because there is most controversy over the
wisdom of admitting children as young as this to a nursery. They
are not then old enough to benefit from association with other
children, and there are certain obvious risks, namely, fretting
because of separation from the mother, and infections.
In spite of the extra rations and supplementary medicaments
available, I have never been satisfied with the progress of these
young children. From the point of view of the welfare of the child
I should therefore only be prepared to recommend the admission of
a child under two years if there was very definite evidence of neglect
or mismanagement of the child in the home. I have a record of
one child, who was suffering from chronic malnutrition and neglect,
and has done very well in the nursery.