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

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Wimbledon 1938

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Wimbledon]

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inspections and twice to conduct the re-inspection of children
who had been previously found to be suffering from defects.
Six hundred and fifty-four of these latter re-inspections were
undertaken in 1938, special re-examination cards being utilised
for this purpose.
At the routine, and also at the special inspections at the
Health Centre, when a child is found to be suffering from
defective vision requiring treatment, particulars are entered
up on a special eye card. These cards are also taken to the
school at each re-visit of the medical inspector. In all four
hundred and forty-one re-inspections of such children were
carried out. In all cases where the necessary spectacles have
not been obtained, home visits by the school nurse are arranged.
A special record is kept of all delicate children, whether
discovered at the routine or special medical inspections. These
are children suffering from heart disease, rheumatism, suspected
tuberculosis, orthopaedic defects and similar conditions.
They are also re-examined during the medical officer's re-visits
to the schools. During 1938 two hundred and sixty-two such
re-inspections were conducted.
7. ARRANGEMENTS FOR TREATMENT.
(a) Malnutrition. As in 1937, a survey was carried out in
the schools with a view to detecting further cases of malnutrition
amongst the children. All the schools in the Borough
were visited by the assistant medical officer. The co-operation
of the head teachers and class teachers was readily given.
Special attention was also paid to the nutrition of the children
during the routine inspections and also during the special
inspections at the Health Centre.
As the result of this inquiry one hundred and twelve new
cases were provided with free milk in school by the Education
Committee after full investigation of the family circumstances
had been carried out. In addition, one hundred and forty-five
other children, who had been selected the previous year, were
still in receipt of free milk under this scheme. The total
number receiving free milk in school during 1938 amounted to
two hundred and fifty-seven. All these children received milk
during both the morning and afternoon sessions. They are
re-examined every six months when their weights are recorded
and entered up on special cards provided for the purpose. The
milk, in the first instance, is granted for a period of six months
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