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
Walthamstow 1957
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Walthamstow]
This page requires JavaScript
13
Owing to the increase in the number of children on the school
rolls since 1947 and the consequent crowding of accommodation
it was not always possible for medical inspection to take place
under satisfactory conditions. Special facilities have been provided
in some of the newer schools.
6. REVIEW OF THE FACTS DISCLOSED BY
MEDICAL INSPECTION
(N.B. The numbers given below refer to medical and special inspection
at schools and do not include other examinations at clinics.)
(a) Classification of the Nutrition of Children inspected during the year in the routine age groups:—
| Number Inspected | Satisfactory | Unsatisfactory | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | ||
| 5 year age group | 1,355 | 1,315 | 97.1 | 40 | 2.9 |
| 10-12 year age group | 1,562 | 1,548 | 99.1 | 14 | 0.9 |
| 14 year age group | 622 | 607 | 97.6 | 15 | 2.4 |
| Others | 604 | 600 | 99.3 | 4 | 0.7 |
| Totals | 4,143 | 4,070 | 98.2 | 73 | 1.8 |
(b)
| 1957 | 1956 | |
|---|---|---|
| Average visits to schools | 4 | 4 |
| Total examinations | 32,980 | 20,443 |
| No. of individual pupils found unclean | 109 | 97 |
| Percentage uncleanliness of average attendance | 0.6 | 0.5 |
The number of individual children found unclean during 1957
was 109, i.e. a percentage of 0.5 of the number of children on the
roll. This compares very favourably with some areas where it is
understood up to 15 per cent. of children are involved. These
unclean children form the hard core of uncleanliness still left in
the Borough and the continuation of even this comparative handful
of unclean children is a matter for great regret and a reflection on
the few dirty homes which continue to exist in spite of all the
efforts of the social services.
(c) Minor Ailments and Skin Defects.—The following was the number of skin defects found to require treatment or observation:—
| Treatment | Observation | |
|---|---|---|
| Ringworm—Head | 38 | — |
| Body | 9 | — |
| Scabies | 1 | — |
| Impetigo | 2 | — |
| Other skin disease | 203 | 55 |