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

Walthamstow 1910

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Walthamstow]

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Table: STATEMENT OF THE CHIEF DEFECTS REVEALED BY INSPECTION.

STATEMENT OF THE CHIEF DEFECTS REVEALED BY INSPECTION.

Defect or Disease.No. of Children.Percentage.
Verminous condition (bad)430.7
Pediculosis Nits90914.0
Defective Vision6329.8
External Eye Disease3796.0
Otorrhcea510.8
Defective Hearing420.7
Nutrition—below normal470.8
,, bad5
Adenoids340.7
Mouth Breathers13
Considerably Enlarged Tonsils2694.5
Urgently requiring Removal20
Defective Teeth requiring immediate attention1843.0
Tuberculosis390.6
Lung or Bronchial Affections4757.3
Diseases of Nervous System370.6
Spinal Deformities70.01
Heart Affections75311.7

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The large numbers returned as suffering from heart and lung affections
are made up largely of those noted as "Cardiac Weakness" and
"Bronchial Catarrh."
SUMMARY OF DEFECTS.
The preceding Tables give the Summary of defects for boys and girls
at the different ages and for all schools, and for three age groups in two
schools selected as representative of two classes of children —those
mainly of well-to-do and poorer parents.
(d) GENERAL REVIEW OF THE FACTS
DISCLOSED BY MEDICAL INSPECTION.
Clothing and Footgear.—Fifty-five children were found to
have bad clothing and 151 with bad boots, less than 1 and 2-5 per
cent, of the total.
In comparing the "good" and "bad'' schools, however, it is found
that while the percentage with insufficient clothing and footgear is
neglible for "good" schools, the "bad" ones rise to 5 and 9 per cent,
respectively.
This result is what one would expect.