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
Willesden 1910
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Willesden]
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School—LEOPOLD ROAD (Provided).
| BOYS. | GIRLS. | INFANTS. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assistant School Medical Officer | G. H. Mitchell, M.B. | J. M. Schaub, M.B. | J. S. Crone, L.R.C.P. |
| Head Teacher | E. Eyles. | Miss E. Slape | Miss E. Irvin. |
| Accommodation | 400 | 400 | 400 |
| Average No. on Roll | 401 | 412 | 443 |
| No. of Parents objecting | 4 | 5 | I |
| Time per Inspection | ten minutes | ten minutes | nine minutes |
| No. referred for subsequent examination | none | 10 | 1 |
| No. to whom directions for treatment given | 42 | 35 | 69 |
| No referred to S.M.O. as suitable for visiting by L.H. Visitor | 5 | 20 | 19 |
| Disturbances of School arrangements by Med. Inspection | no | no | no |
Comments of A.S.M.O.—Dr. Crone comments as follows :—" The work
of medical inspection in this school goes on smoothly and satisfactorily.
I have had several parents thank me for pointing out defects
in the children, of which they were in ignorance. I find that the
children come to school cleaner and tidier. For instance, the
younger children just entering upon their school career come with
clean heads, whereas at the beginning, nearly every child's head was
verminous. The parents now realise that a child with a verminous
head will be subjected to a strict examination and excluded if necessary.
Owing to the recent epidemics of measles and whooping
cough, a great deal of time has been devoted to the examination of
children returning to school after these illnesses, in order to avoid
the least risk of infection."
Type—V. Modern school, central hall, three storeys.
Site—Open, low lying.
Playground—Tar paved, well drained, good condition.
Sanitary Conveniences—
Boys 8 syphonic latrines, automatic flushing.
Girls 1o syphonic latrines, automatic flushing.
Infants 8 syphonic latrines, automatic flushing.
Urinals—Senior Boys 28-ft. 6-in. lineal, Infant Boys 27-ft. lineal.
Lavatory Basins—Boys 12, Girls 12, Infants 10.
Drinking Water—Three water fountains with metal cups.
Class Room Walls—Glazed brick dado, hard plaster above.
General Cleanliness of School—Fairly clean.
Desks—New dual desks.
Lighting—Good. Window to floor area 1 in 7.5.
Heating—Hot water radiators.
Ventilation—Good. Available window openings to floor area 1 in 11.9.
Cloak Rooms—Lighting and ventilation good.
Continents of A.S.M.O.—Dr. Mitchell says: "The children examined
have come up to a very fair standard of health. Serious pathological
conditions have been rare, and have been chiefly pulmonary.
Carious teeth very frequent. The hair of nearly every boy being
cut short, verminous heads are practically non-existent."
Comments of A.S.M.O.—Dr. Schaub remarks: "The children I found,
on the whole, healthy and well clothed. There is still great difficulty
in getting attention paid to cases of defective eyesight, bad teeth,
and enlarged tonsils and adenoids."