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
Poplar 1934
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Poplar, Metropolitan Borough]
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| Marked Success, | .Success. | Moderate Improvement. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rickets. | 48 | 14 | 26 | 7 |
| Disturbed Dentition* | 121 | 27 | 73 | 17 |
| Malnutrition | 73 | 23 | 33 | 10 |
| Debility | 65 | 5 | 28 | 23 |
| After Illness | 35 | 7 | 12 | 8 |
| Bronchitis | 12 | 1 | 9 | 2 |
| Adenoids, Enlarged Tonsils | ||||
| and Adenitis | 9 | — | 3 | 5 |
| Total | 363 | 77 | 184 | 72 |
| * See "Notes on the Groups," page 139. | ||||
The 30 cases unaccounted for in the above results showed no improvement;
19 of these ceased attendance too soon, and most of them at least
would, I am sure, have been successes. About half these defaulters were
obliged to leave us owing to compelling circumstances. The rest were
frankly a disappointment to us. The remaining 11 "failures" are
discussed later.
Notes on the Groups.
1. Rickets.
Ten severe cases were predominantly skeletal, 6 of mixed type,
muscular and bony. All severe cases attended well, 7 being marked
successes. 3 had repeated courses lasting from 9 to 16 months, with short
intervals. Two premature infants, severe cases, began early; 2 were
completely cured.
Muscular Rickets.—There were 4 cases, all severe.
Case Histories .—Muscular Rickets.
P. Full term, but weakly; began at 7 months, early showing signs
of the disease. He had 16 months of treatment with intermissions insisted
on by myself. Each time he returned with the description, accurate, I
am sure, 'never so well when away from Light Treatment." He is now
straight and vigorous.