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
Woolwich 1931
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Woolwich]
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MEDICAL INSPECTION OF TODDLERS, 1931—
| Disease, Defect or Condition. | Boys : Age last Birthday | Girls : Age last Birthday | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | ||
| Nervous System— Mongolian idiocy | - | - | - | - | - | - | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Minor retardation (speech, etc.) | — | 7 | 4 | — | — | 6 | 4 | — | 21 |
| Minor epilepsy | — | 1 | — | — | — | 2 | 3 | - | 6 |
| Cerebral diplegia | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | - | - | 1 |
| Anterior poliomyelitis | — | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 |
| Chorea | — | 1 | - | - | — | - | 2 | - | 3 |
| Behaviour symptoms | 1 | 67 | 39 | 21 | 4 | 46 | 42 | 15 | 235 |
| Alimentary System— Worms | - | 3 | 5 | 3 | - | 4 | 3 | 5 | 23 |
| Constipation | — | 3 | 5 | 6 | — | 9 | 12 | 4 | 39 |
| Colitis | - | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 |
| Acidosis | - | 4 | 2 | 1 | - | 1 | 4 | 3 | 15 |
| Coeliac disease | — | 1 | - | — | — | — | — | — | 1 |
| Genito-urinary System— Enuresis (non-behaviour) | - | - | 1 | - | - | 6 | 1 | - | 8 |
| Pyelitis | — | — | 1 | — | — | 2 | 2 | — | 5 |
| Rickets— Past or Present | 4 | 66 | 37 | 16 | 4 | 57 | 36 | 11 | 231 |
| Deformities— Postural | 2 | 42 | 36 | 24 | 2 | 30 | 27 | 13 | 176 |
| Congenital dislocation | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 1 |
| General— Tuberculosis (bone or gland) | 1 | 1 | - | 2 | - | 2 | - | - | 6 |
| Rheumatic symptoms | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | 3 | 2 | 2 | 9 |
| Scurvy | — | 2 | — | - | - | - | - | — | 2 |
| Haemophilia | — | — | 1 | - | — | - | - | — | 1 |
| Acrocyanosis | — | — | — | - | - | - | 1 | — | 1 |
| Pituitary dystrophy | — | — | 1 | - | — | 1 | 1 | — | 3 |
| Albinism | - | - | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | 1 |
| Umbilical hernia | — | — | — | - | — | 1 | 1 | — | 2 |
| Total Children Examined | 8 | 203 | 135 | 72 | 9 | 204 | 134 | 82 | 847 |
These results show, in regard to the majority of defects, no striking variation from the
figures last year. Conditions that might roughly be associated with poor feeding show a
minor increase; e.g., sub-normal nutrition was noted in 28 percent, of cases in 1931, as compared
with 26 percent, in 1930; anaemia in 26.5 percent., as compared with 20 ; rickets in
27 per cent., as compared with 22 (total cases). This variation, however, may be apparent rather
than real since the total winter months were included in the 1931 figures and only part of the
winter months in the previous year (May to December). Apart from this, the weather returns
for the year 1931 would almost tend to suggest an increased risk of anaemia and rickets in the
latter period, owing to the lack of sunshine. There is nothing to indicate a general falling off
in nutrition, even of a mild kind, due to feeding conditions alone.
The figures for anaemia and rickets, however, separately analysed, show some interesting
variations as compared with 1930. The incidence of anaemia is much higher this year at the
age of the earliest inspection, namely, 2 years, in both boys and girls, but it is practically