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
West Ham 1930
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for West Ham]
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(i) CRIPPLING DEFECTS.
Marked crippling defects are seldom found among the Elementary
School children, having been previously segregated out
at the Special Schools. This may be done before school life, on
first admission to school life, or at the examination of Exceptional
children, which occurs annually.
Quarterly medical examinations are carried out at the
Special Schools for the admission of crippled children. Certain
children already on the roll are examined at the same time re
fitness for continued attendance or return to elementary schools.
There are, at present, many cases awaiting admission to the
Special Schools, for which there is no accommodation.
The following Table gives an analytical classification of all
the children who were due for presentation at the four Admission
examinations at the two Special Schools during the year 1930.
| Boys | Girls | |
|---|---|---|
| Mental Defectives | 33 | 19 |
| Physical Defectives | 16 | 15 |
| 49 | 34 |
| Boys | Girls | |
|---|---|---|
| Unfit for School, M.D. | 1 | — |
| Unfit for School, P.D. | 4 | 4 |
| Recommended for Open Air School | 2 | — |
| To continue, return or have trial at Elementary School | 19 | 19 |
| Recommended for Deaf Centre | 2 | — |
| Postponed for further examination | 12 | 16 |
| *Absentees from Medical Examinations | 30 | 25 |
| Notified to Local Authority (through admission examination) | 11 | 6 |
| 81 | 70 | |
| 151 | ||
* Every absentee is followed up by a special Nurse. Absence is often
due to the fact that the parent objects to any examination being made
in regard to mental defect.
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