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 1947
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for West Ham]
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schools, and a visit is made to each of these schools by the
Chief Assistant School Medical Officer, towards the end of
each term, for the purpose of compiling the necessary reports.
During- the year, 11 reports were submitted on Form
E.D.211(D.P.).
GRAMMAR SCHOOLS. Children in the higher schools
are examined annually in this Borough. The scope of these
examinations is rather wider than that of the periodic inspections
in other schools. Two interesting features which emerge
are that the children are much better nourished than those
attending the ordinary schools, and the percentage of defects
found to require treatment is higher, chiefly on account of
defective vision. The other defect commonly found at these
schools is faulty posture, resulting from the physical, and in some cases mental or emotional, strain imposed by adolescence. Details follow:—
| Name of School | Chief defects found | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number examined | Defective vision | Postural defects | Nose & Throat defects | All other defects | |
| West Ham Municipal College (including Trade School for Girls and School of Building) | 349 | 36 | 11 | 4 | 49 |
| Stratford Grammar | 335 | 51 | 4 | 16 | 16 |
| Plaistow Grammar | 731 | 64 | 8 | 21 | 34 |
| St. Angela's High | 584 | 38 | 11 | 19 | 41 |
| West Ham High | 215 | 32 | 8 | 14 | 15 |
| St. Bonaventure's | — | — | — | — | -- |
| Lister Day Continuation Institute | 91 | 8 | - | 2 | - |
| 2,305 | 229 | 42 | 76 | 155 | |
In addition, 135 grammar school children were examined
regarding fitness for boxing, for camp and for entertainments,
making a grand total of 2,440.
98