Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Ilford]
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teurised, must also come up to a given or somewhat similar
standard. At the present time the multiplicity of nomenclature
used in designated milk is defeating the object intended.
The housing difficulty has been very little eased in Ilford. A
number of cases come to my notice which would in ordinary times
be dealt with as serious cases of overcrowding, but which have to
be tolerated under present conditions.
The School Medical Service has carried out efficient work.
1 have pointed out in the course of the report, evidences of the
fact. In 1908, before medical inspection started, there were 135
cases of Ringworm in the Ilford schools. At the end of 1924
there were only 5 cases under observation. In 1919, after the
interference with School Medical work caused by the War, 10'7
per cent, of the children in the schools were dealt with for
uncleanly conditions. In 1924 only 4 per cent. Similarly in the
year after the War, 30 cases of Itch were discovered at medical
inspection and 116 cases at the School Clinic. These figures were
reduced last year to only 2 cases at medical inspection and 3 at
the Clinic. In the same way the number of cases of Impetigo or
contagious sores has been reduced from 546 to 243. At its lowest
value, therefore, the School Medical work is causing a very considerable
saving in school attendances. The fact that 2,158
children attended the Clinic for minor ailments, in addition to
3,036 who were treated by the Dentist and 637 who were treated
by the Oculist, illustrates the amount of work which has been
carried out for school children in the very inadequate premises at
Oakfield Road. The provision of special schools in Ilford is still
delayed. An open-air school is still under consideration and a site
was approved for the purpose in July by the Board of Education.
There is no doubt that this school will have a profound effect on
the physique of the, C.3 child. There is no school for mentally
defective children. I find that at the present time there are 30
young persons over 16 years of age who were certified when at
school in Ilford to be feeble-minded, 22 of whom have had no
training in a special school such as they required to face the battle
of life. There are 20 feeble-minded children attending elementary
schools and 7 not attending any school, who should be receiving
education in a special school, either day or residential.
The Public Health Department has lost the services of Mr.
Bull, for many years its Chief Clerk. His appointment as Superintendent
Registrar to the Romford Board of Guardians is a promotion
well earned by the very capable and efficient work he did in
Ilford. It has also lost, by the untimely decease after a long and
acutely painful illness, Nurse Robinson, a Health Visitor who was
deservedly popular with the mothers and children with whom she
had to deal. The Department has been strengthened by the