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

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Willesden 1930

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Willesden]

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106
The continued existence of the Cancer Clinic is, I think, justified by the fact that in even 23
of the cases which attended the centre there was a sufficient element of doubt regarding the diagnosis
to warrant these cases being referred to Hospital for further examination. The Clinic does not set out
to deal necessarily only with cases of established cancer, but also to investigate to the full those precancerous
conditions which we know from experience so often precede the appearance of a malignant
growth.
APPENDIX I.
WILLESDEN EDUCATION COMMITTEE.
SUPPLY OF MILK TO SCHOOL CHILDREN.

In accordance with the instructions of the Education Committee ( videMinutes 1929-30, p.433), I beg to report on the above matter.

The following schools where milk has been supplied have been considered :—

(1) Carlton Vale.
No. on Roll807
No. receiving milkGirls150
Infants160
since Midsummer, 1929.
(2) Kilburn Park.
No. on Roll353
No. receiving milkGirls105
Infants115
since September, 1929.
(3) St. John's.
No. on Roll444
No. receiving milkGirls30
Infants60
since January, 1930.
(4) Oldfield Road.
No. on Roll712
No. receiving milkJunior Dept.140
Senior Dept.110
since November, 1929.

The milk supplied costs Id. per head, the quantity given being one-third of a pint in sealed
bottles and sucked up by a straw.
It is taken between 10 and 11 a.m.
The children who do have it have had it on the whole continuously since it was begun.
The milk has been purchased by the parents and the children have not been selected for health
reasons.
It has not been possible to keep a complete physical record of these children during the time
that they have had milk as this matter was only referred to me at the end of February, 1930.
In the Senior Department at Oldfield Road, however, the children were weighed shortly after
the experiment was begun, and again at the end of April. The girls in this department put on an
average weight of some 3 to 4 lbs. in a period of some four months. In the case of the boys the increase
was not so great, being only 2 lbs. on the average. In no case was a decrease of weight recorded. I
have no corresponding figures of the weight put on by children of similar age groups, who did not
receive milk.
The result of the observations of parents, teachers and health visitors on those children who
have had milk appears to be that the children are better for having it. Certain reservations, however,
are made in respect of this opinion by a few parents, e.g., that certain children are not hungry for
their dinner after having had the milk, that certain children do not take breakfast because they are
going to have milk for lunch.
On the whole, it would appear that if children get a good breakfast at home before they leave for
school, lunch between 10 and 11 a.m. is not called for. This opinion, however, may require to be
modified in those few cases where parents go early to work and children consequently have an early
breakfast.
The most important fact, however, in connection with the supply of this milk has been the
unanimous opinion of those engaged in the work, that those who need it most get it least.