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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(k) NUTRITION.
There is a considerable redaction in the number of badly
nourished children in the Borough. The free meals and the supply
of the morning drink of milk at the schools is coping admirably
with the question of under-nourishment, and although quite common
in the earliest years of medical inspection, really bad cases
are now practically unknown.
Table II. shows 272 cases requiring treatment and 21 cases
under observation, giving a percentage of 1.6 for Routines.
| HEIGHT | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1927. | 1930. | |||
| Age | Number Exa mined | Average Height in inches. | Number Examined | Average Height in inches. |
| Boys | ||||
| 5 | 1554 | 41.3 | 1387 | 40.9 |
| 8 | 2166 | 47.5 | 2744 | 47.9 |
| 12 | 2278 | 55.0 | 1718 | 55.3 |
| Girls | ||||
| 5 | 1525 | 41.1 | 1455 | 41.2 |
| 8 | 1976 | 47.3 | 2581 | 47.7 |
| 12 | 2214 | 55.7 | 1611 | 55.9 |
| WEIGHT. | ||||
| Age | Number Examined | Average Weight in lbs. | Number Examined | Average Weight in lbs. |
| Boys | ||||
| 5 | 1544 | 41.1 | 1387 | 40.2 |
| 8 | 2166 | 52.0 | 2744 | 54.1 |
| 12 | 2278 | 75.7 | 1718 | 76.7 |
| Girls | ||||
| 5 | 1525 | 38.9 | 1455 | 38.9 |
| 8 | 1976 | 51.0 | 2581 | 53.3 |
| 12 | 2214 | 76.2 | 1611 | 78.9 |
(6) Infectious Disease.
There has been no school closure during the year from infectious
diseases.
The following Table gives an analysis of the cases entered in the School Diseases Register during the year :—
| Impetigo | 52 |
| Scabies | 97 |
| Other Skin Diseases | 42 |
| Conjunctivitis | |
| Verminous | 60 |