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

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Walthamstow 1910

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Walthamstow]

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81
Only 304 parents of 6,781 invited refused to have their children
inspected.
The refusals show that some prejudice still exists on the part of
certain parents to the work. This will decrease yearly with a fuller
knowledge of the aims and objects of medical inspection and its results,
and in time a refusal will be a rarity.
No numerical count has been kept of the children inspected at the
parents' request, but the number certainly more than counterbalanced
the refusals.
While respecting the parents' wishes, children suspected of pediculosis
by the teachers were examined for this condition, but the number
found so suffering was very small.
Arising out of the 6,432 statutory inspections, the 354 made by me
at the schools and the 2,434 attendances of children at my office, over
2,000 .visits were made to the homes of the children hy the Health
Visitors and School Nurse, and 67 by the Sanitary Inspector.
These latter were undertaken when the conditions of the children
presupposed insanitary homes and surroundings.
I have no doubt that the Medical Inspection and the work arising
from it, as carried out, have been of the greatest service to our children
and to the public health.
I beg to remain, Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
J. J. CLARKE.