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 1936
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for West Ham]
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of infectious disease. The nutritional state of the children is
good. During the last quarter of the year the average gain in
weight has been two pounds."
General Report: The Headmistress, Miss J. E. Cass,
attends at every medical inspection. There is complete co-ordination
between Miss Cass and the School Medical Service. Cases
requiring treatment for minor ailments are dealt with at the
Rosetta Road Clinic, which is situated next to the Nursery
School. It is because of this that all cases requiring treatment
are promptly dealt with.
During the course of the year 48 children were given doses of
a standardised brand of cod-liver oil. These children were suffering
from very slight subnormal nutrition, debility, bronchitis, or
slight rickets. It is now two years since cod-liver oil was allowed
to be given to certain special cases, and it is found that about fifty
children need the preparation every year—apart from the Summer
months.
Using the Board's classification for malnutrition, the returns are as follows—comparison being made with the returns for the "Entrant" examinations in this area.
| Nursery School | Entrants to Elementary Schools | |
|---|---|---|
| Excellent | 26% | 18.0% |
| Normal | 70% | 77.3% |
| Slightly Subnormal | 4% | 4.3% |
| Bad | — | .4% |
Miss Marsden, the Dental Surgeon, reports:—
"The Nursery School was inspected three times during the
year—the inspections following the Doctor's visits as nearly as
possible. The percentage of children requiring treatment was
quite a small one.
The children attended very well for treatment owing to the
continued help and assistance of Miss Cass. I should like to
take this opportunity of thanking the Headmistress very much for
her help."
I also have to thank Miss Cass for the following account on
the daily routine of the School:—
The Nursery School day begins at 8.30, but quite a number
of the 2 to 5's arrive even earlier, and by 9.30 the pram shelter is
overflowing.
The Nursery School day is a very busy and exciting one.
In theory, washing, eating, playing and sleeping, sound dull and
ordinary affairs, but, believe me, in practice they are simply
devastating. From 8.30 to 9.30 there is the pleasant sound of
running water, and a good splash in the wash basins gives everyone
a very pleasant feeling. Then, when you have a tooth brush
of your own it is quite jolly to use it. Overalls are donned, and
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