The alcohol factor in social conditions : some facts for reformers / The report of an inquiry presented to the National temperance league, by George Blaiklock, barrister-at-law, chairman of the Social economics sub-committee ; edited by John Turner Rae, secretary.

  • Blaiklock, George.
Date:
1914
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The alcohol factor in social conditions : some facts for reformers / The report of an inquiry presented to the National temperance league, by George Blaiklock, barrister-at-law, chairman of the Social economics sub-committee ; edited by John Turner Rae, secretary. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    examination of 1,500 children in Chelsea schools Mr. Macleod Yearsley gave forty-four per cent, as having enlarged tonsils or adenoids, and seven per cent, as requiring surgical treatment. Open-Air Schools : “ At Birley House the children on admission presented a miserable and uncared-for appearance, and as the weather was cold and windy, and many of them were suffering from common colds, itwould be difficult to imagine a more wretched- looking class. They came from very poor districts and most of them were badly clothed and dirty. They were poorly nourished, had carious and defective teeth, and were anaemic. At an examina- tion of candidates nominated by teachers for admission to these schools almost every child seen is in a grave condition. Of the eighty-six children first admitted fifty-two required dental treat- ment, and discharging ears were present in six, defective vision twelve, and for throat and nose defects seven were noted as requiring immediate treatment. Apathy of Parents : “ The chief difficulty in obtaining treatment was the apathy of the parents, and several children had to be told again and again before any attention was paid. As the children come from parts scattered over South London it was not easy for anyone to get actually in touch with the parents, and still more difficult to get the parents to spend time and money in coming to the school to be interviewed in regard to the provision of treatment. Statistics of Disease : “ The children at Shooter’s Hill were of a similar type, but possibly even more anaemic than the children at Birley House. The conditions of the children admitted were noted as :— Tubercular disease of lungs 5 Doubtful tubercular pulmonary disease 5 Other lung and chest diseases 40 Otorrhoea ... ... ... ... ... ... 15 Enlarged tonsils 14 Adenoids ... 10 Cardiac diseases ... ... ... ... ... 5 Diseases of the eyes 11 Enlarged glands (not obviously tubercule) 13 Tubercular glands 4 Chorea 1 Curvature of spine ... ... ... ... ... 5 Torticollis 1 General malnutrition 49 Cost of Tuberculosis : “ During the ten years I have been in charge of the medical supervision of London Elementary schools a third of a million has been actually paid out for the education of children who died of tuberculosis before they were out of their ’teens. If the expense of cripple schools and of hospital and other medical treatment is added, the cost of this disease in school children in London in that time ran into a round million. During the past decennium the London Education Authority has expended over £30,000 annually for the education of children who have died from tubercle before attaining adult working life.