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

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East Ham 1944

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for East Ham]

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Such cases have been dealt with by the Society's Inspectors as the result of direct reference from the School Medical Service during the year 1944. The following table indicates the work performed by the Society:—

ConditionNumber of CasesTreatment obtainedTreatment arrangedCases under observationMoved out of area
Tonsils and adenoids532
Dental caries33
General neglect2620improved33
Others77
413353

The fact that court proceedings were avoided in every case is
deserving of special mention.
BLIND, DEAF, DEFECTIVE AND EPILEPTIC CHILDREN
Mentally Defective Children.
Total number of children notified during the year ended
31st December, 1944, by the Local Education Authority
to the Local Mental Deficiency Authority under the
Mental Deficiency (Notification of Children) Regulations
1928 8

During the year 1944 the number of cases examined for the purposes of the Mental Deficiency Acts was 22. Of these 18 were classified as mentally deficient and 4 as dull and backward, recommendations being made as shown in the following table:—

Number examined22
Classified as mentally deficient18'18
Classified as morally deficient
Classified as imbeciles
Classified as idiots
Classified as dull and backward4
Recommended for Special School10
Recommended for transfer to the Committee for the Care of the Mentally Defective8

The Day Special School for Mentally Defective Children was
closed at the outbreak of war and many of the children were evacuated
to Banstead or by private arrangements.
Many of these scholars are returning and it is not uncommon to
find that some have been admitted to Ordinary Elementary Schools,
whilst others have remained without education for considerable