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

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Ilford 1905

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Ilford]

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61
extent the Sanitary and Educational Authorities, has
undoubtedly facilitated prompt and effective action in dealing
with epidemic sickness.
(2) Much has been done to secure greater cleanliness
and freedom from vermin, and to attack such troublesome
diseases as Ringworm. The results here have been further
improved in certain areas, by the prosecution of the parents
in extreme cases of neglect. Apart from the general physical
gain to the child, resulting from greater cleanliness, there is
also the consequent improvement in the morale of the school.
(3) The establishment of medical inspection has caused
more careful and widespread attention to be given to defective
children. Minor physical defects have been remedied; surgical
apparatus has been obtained.
(4) To nothing, probably, has more attention been paid
than to eyesight, and in no direction have beneficial results
more certainly been obtained. Defects have been discovered
which would otherwise have passed unnoticed, and spectacles
have been provided.
Overstraining of the eyes has often been stopped, with
the consequent disappearance of many headaches and much
apparent stupidity.
(5) Some steps have been taken towards dealing with
the more difficult question of defective hearing.
(6) Teachers have been lead to take more intelligent and
more sympathetic interest in the physical welfare of the
children placed under their care. Ventilation is better
attended to as its importance becomes more fully realised.