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
Bromley 1968
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Bromley]
This page requires JavaScript
TABLE IV
CHILDREN IN COMMUNITY THOUGHT TO BE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED, BORN AFTER 31.12.1962
| (Corresponding number for 1967, children born after 31.12.1961, in brackets) | ||
| Subnormality (various causes) | 36 | (45) |
| Mongolism | 23 | (26) |
| Severe Subnormality (Non specific defects) | 21 | (21) |
| Cerebral Palsy | 9 | (20) |
| Spina Bifida (with hydrocephaly) | 9 | (8) |
| Hydrocephaly | 6 | (7) |
| Microcephaly | 6 | (6) |
| Spina Bifida | 1 | (4) |
| Microcephaly with cerebral palsy | 2 | (3) |
| Autism | 0 | (3) |
| Deaf | 3 | (3) |
| Rubella Syndrome | 2 | (2) |
| Patan's Syndrome | 2 | (1) |
| Lowe's Syndrome | 1 | (1) |
| Total: | 121 | (150) |
I he total does not include:
4 children found in 1968 to be of normal intelligence.
6 children who moved out of the Borough in 1968.
2 children who died in 1968.
In the Annual Report for 1967 comment was made on the
numerical constancy of specific diagnostic groups. Again, in spite
of the turnover amounting to one-fifth of mentally handicapped
child population (children born in 1962 are out of the table, the
1968 referrals are in), all the groups with the exception of cerebral
palsy remain constant. Our excellent network for case finding, the
alertness and sound judgment of health visitors, the skills of the
departmental medical staffs, together with the smooth administrative
"crossing over" of cases between the Maternity and Child
Health, School Health and Mental Health Sections have laid sound
foundations for a comprehensive diagnostic and treatment service
of the mentally handicapped child. The reliability of Table IV is
but one tangible proof.