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
London County Council 1927
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
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Results of treatment.—During the past year all the children who had been discharged from treatment in the year 1921, were reviewed, and the results are shown in the following table :
| Location of disease. | Died within 5 years. | Well and at school. | Well and at work. | Fit for work but unemployed. | Keeping well. No information as to employment. | Unfit for work, or condition unsatisfactory. | Undergoing further residential treatment. | Total. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surgical— Hip | 13 | 18 | 10 | 1 | -+ | 2 | 1 | 45 |
| Spine Other bones and | 9 | 16 | 9 | 2 | - | 1 | - | 37 |
| joints | 4 | 18 | 10 | - | 3 | - | - | 35 |
| Glands (including peritoneum) | 4 | 18 | 25 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 59 |
| Other parts ... | 6 | 1 | 4 | - | 1 | 1 | - | 13 |
| Total | 36 | 71 | 58 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 189 |
| Percentage | 191 | 37.5 | 30.7 | 3.2 | 3.7 | 3.2 | 2.6 | 100 |
It is well worthy of note that no less than 60 per cent. of the children, who were
suffering from surgical disease of the hip or spine, showed only slight or no deformity
or limitation of movement.
Duration of treatment.—The average duration of treatment in days was:—
| Location of Disease. | Survivors. | Fatal Cases. |
|---|---|---|
| Hip | 555 | 490 |
| Spine | 479 | 492 |
| Other bones and joints | 298 | 534 |
| Glands | 217 | 68 |
| Other parts | 268 | 460 |
Poliomyelitis.
Since September, 1924, by arrangement with the Metropolitan Asylums Board,
50 beds have been available at Queen Mary's Hospital, Carshalton, for the treatment
of cases of poliomyelitis, up to 15 years of age, entering upon the second stage of the
disease (deemed for this purpose to be three months after onset) and also of those
requiring correctional operations for resulting deformities. Attention is concentrated
on the re-education of the muscles, whilst splints and other orthopaedic appliances
are supplied as required. Children are also given ordinary school lessons pari passu
with the medical treatment.
Steps have been taken to make these facilities widely known to the medical
profession, including the surgical staffs of the voluntary hospitals in London, with a
view to ensuring that cases are recommended for treatment while in the early stages
of the disease. While all certifying officers visiting special and ordinary schools
are instructed to draw attention to any children needing further treatment, an
agreement has been arrived at with the Metropolitan Asylums Board to secure the
admission of all cases of poliomyelitis which the Board is required to accommodate
in the acute stage of the disease, into one hospital, viz., the Western Fever Hospital,
and the Board has arranged for the hospital to be visited regularly by an experienced
consultant surgeon for the purpose of advising as to the best methods of treatment.
Cases are transferred from this hospital to Queen Mary's Hospital, with the parents'
consent, as soon as the case has reached the second stage of illness.
From September, 1924, to the end of 1927, 108 cases have been admitted (including
three re-admissions) to Queen Mary's Hospital, and 61 have been discharged
(including two deaths and three redischarges), leaving 47 under treatment on 31st
December, 1927. The duration of stay ranges from a few months to over two years.
Cases are only admitted by application of the Council's medical officer of health.
Every notified case is reported by medical officers of health of the metropolitan