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

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Willesden 1938

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Willesden]

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Group IV.—Orthopedic and Postural Defects.

Under the Authority's Scheme.Otherwise.
Residential treatment with education.Residential treatment without education.Nonresidential treatment at an orthopædic clinic.Residential treatment with education.Residential treatment without education.Nonresidential treatment at an orthopaedic clinic.Total* number treated.
(i)(ii)(iii)(i)(ii)(iii)
No. of children treated8 ordinary elementary school children0308006316

*A child may be recorded in more than one category and, therefore, the total number of children
treated will not necessarily be the same as the sum of the figures in the separate categories.
Table V.—Dental Inspection and Treatment.
Vide 21st Annual Report on Dental Work in connection with school children, expectant and
nursing mothers and children under 5 years, herewith, page 54.

Table VI.—Uncleanliness and Verminous Conditions.

(i.)Average number of visits per school made during the year by the School Nurses17
(ii.)Total number of examinations of children in the schools by School Nurses52,857
(iii.)Number of individual children found unclean at the School Cleanliness Inspections1,755*
(iv.)Number of individual children cleansed under Section 87 (2) and (3) of the Education Act, 1921206†
(v.)Number of cases in which legal proceedings were taken:—
(a) Under the Education Act, 192119
(b) Under the School Attendance Bye-laws0
(vi.)Number of school sessions at which inspections were conducted572
(vii.)(i.) Original Inspections:—
Children examined (i.e., cases not individual children)45,763
Found unclean2,573
Percentage found unclean5.6
Excluded on account of uncleanliness—
(ii.) Re-inspections:—
Children examined (i.e., cases not individual children)7,094
Found unclean4,476
Percentage found unclean63.1
Excluded on account of uncleanliness3

* The total number of individual children found unclean = 1,804.
† The total number of individual children cleansed = 379.
Board of Education's Medical Statistical Tables. Notes on Table VI.
" A statement as to the arrangements made by the Local Education Authority for cleansing
verminous children and a record of the cases in which legal proceedings were taken
should be included in the body of the School Medical Officer's Report."
The Authority has established a cleansing room at each of its three Municipal Centres.
Children suffering from nitty or verminous conditions are given the opportunity of being cleansed
at these Centres. The mothers are encouraged to attend with the children, so that they may see
how the cleansing should be carried out. Steel nit combs are sold at the Centres at cost price.
Thorough domestic cleansing of the home is advised by the Health Visitor, disinfection not
being generally resorted to in verminous cases.
Baths are also given for scabies and other skin conditions as necessary.
Record of cases in which legal proceedings were taken:—
The following information has been supplied by the Director of Education to whom cases for
prosecution are referred.

Cases Under Section 87 of the Education Act, 1921. No. of Cases.

Fined.Amount of Fine.Bound over.Dismissed.Standing adjourned at end of Year.
145/-001
510/-