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
Wimbledon 1930
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Wimbledon]
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supervision in the pre-school period would also undoubtedly
help to reduce the incidence of these defects.
(/) Dental Defects. At the routine inspection by the Medical
Officer 262 children were found to have defective teeth requiring
treatment, and 154 to have defective teeth requiring to be kept
under observation. Thus out of a total of 1,891 children examined
in school, 416 or 22% were found to have dental caries
to such an extent as to require treatment or to require their being
kept under observation. During the year 1929 the percentage
was 22.3.
(j) Crippling Defects. One case of spinal curvature requiring
treatment and 7 requiring observation were found at the
routine inspections. There were also 2 cases of slight deformity
due to rickets which did not require treatment. Tn addition
there were a number of cases of round shoulders, ten of which
required treatment and 28 observation.
During July a further enquiry was instituted into the incidence
of crippling amongst: —
(1) Children of school age.
(2) Children under school age.
In all 33 cases were examined. 28 of these cases were school children and 5 children under school age. These cases may be tabulated as follows: —
| School. | Maternity and Child Welfare. | |
|---|---|---|
| Rickets | 3 | 4 |
| Infantile Paralysis | 9 | - |
| Other forms of Paralysis | 3 | - |
| Congenital Malformations | 5 | 1 |
| Other causes | 8 | - |
| Total | 28 | 5 |
Nearly all these cases were undergoing treatment or had
already received attention at the various hospitals in London.
In order to secure consecutive treatment and proper after care
tor crippled children, the Education and Maternity and Child
Welfare Committees had under consideration during the latter
part of the year a scheme for orthopaedic treatment. Particulars
of this scheme are given under the section dealing with
Medical Treatment.
(k) Malnutrition. Malnutrition is not common amongst
school children in Wimbledon. 1891 children were examined
during the year as routines and only six were found to be
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