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

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Ilford 1920

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Ilford]

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96
when their children are found to require treatment. The above
age-group is selected, as it is at the age of 6 years that the first
permanent teeth make their appearance.
The extent to which dental disease is prevalent among school
children is shown by the fact that of 4,188 children inspected by
the Dentist, 3,025, or 72 per cent., were found to require treatment.
Further details of. the work can be seen by reference to
Table IV. (D. 1 and 2).
(d) Treatment of Uncleanliness.— It was not found necessary
during the year to deal with any children under the Children's
Act, 1908, Section 122.
The School Nurses paid 74 visits to the schools, for the purpose
of inspecting the heads and clothing of the children, with
the following result :—
Number of Children Inspected. Number Infected. Per Cent.
13,325 1,400 10
In each case, where vermin or nits are found, notice is sent
to the parent, and where vermin are found, the child is excluded
from school until it has been cleansed. In a number of cases the
parents have voluntarily consented to the cleansing of the children
by the Nurse at the clinic, thus obviating the necessity of
legal proceedings or service of statutory notice under the Act.
(e) Treatment of other Ailments.— An arrangement has been
made with Queen Mary's Hospital, West Ham, by which letters
for free treatment for Ilford children can be obtained, and in 1920,
120 were given for children who required hospital treatment or
whose parents were unable to afford ordinary medical advice.
It is proposed to make a definite grant to this hospital by
the Education Committee, by which a sum of money is to be paid
for each Ilford child operated upon for enlarged tonsils and
adenoids, and for whom treatment is recommended by the School
Medical Officer. It will thus be possible for a much better supervision
of these oases by the School Medical Officer than at the
present time.