London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
London County Council 1933
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
This page requires JavaScript
First Re-inspections, 1933.
| Defect treated. | No. of cases. | Treated. | Untreated. | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| By private doctor. | Under Council's scheme. | At other hospitals. | Discharg'd | Improved. For observation only. | Still needing treatment. | |||||
| Discharg'd | Not dis charg'd | Discharg'd | Not discharg'd | Discharg'd | Not. discharge'd | |||||
| Refraction | 21,549 | 134 | 59 | 5,484 | 2,950 | 526 | 558 | 1,538 | 4,191 | 6,109 |
| Minor ailments | 7,423 | 209 | 36 | 1,923 | 544 | 393 | 190 | 1,942 | 1,011 | 1,175 |
| Nose and throat | 13,678 | 38 | 5 | 4,817 | 233 | 733 | 75 | 1,470 | 2,019 | 4,288 |
| Teeth | 55,500 | 1,605 | 383 | 22,632 | 848 | 1,344 | 137 | 3,538 | 1,100 | 23,913 |
| Other ailments | 12,493 | 291 | 97 | 549 | 733 | 1,145 | 954 | 3,101 | 3,960 | 1,663 |
| Total | 110643 | 2,277 | 580 | 35,405 | 5,308 | 4,141 | 1,914 | 11,589 | 12,281 | 37,148 |
Second Re-inspections, 1933.
| Refraction | 12,738 | 85 | 21 | 2,223 | 1,483 | 268 | 176 | 1,287 | 3,100 | 4,095 |
| .2 | ||||||||||
| Minor ailments | 2,873 | 44 | 13 | 535 | 275 | 115 | 80 | 751 | 471 | 589 |
| Nose and throat | 8,108 | 15 | 5 | 2,142 | 95 | 294 | 45 | 1,527 | 1,460 | 2,525 |
| .2 | .5 | |||||||||
| Teeth | 21,414 | 645 | 148 | 7,164 | 325 | 67 | 2,300 | 548 | 9,740 | |
| Other ailments | 6,374 | 82 | 31 | 215 | 439 | 420 | 432 | 1,683 | 2,228 | 844 |
| .5 | ||||||||||
| Total | 51,507 | 871 | 218 | 12,279 | 2,617 | 1,574 | 800 | 7,548 | 7,807 | 17,793 |
Great difficulty is experienced in persuading parents and children to obtain
treatment for dental defects. In spite of most intensive effort little headway is now
being made in this respect. The more intelligent parents, as is shown by the condition
of the teeth of the children gaining scholarships, take advantage readily of the
facilities, but it appears that a point has been reached at which the apathy and
obstinacy of the remaining parents is invincible. This is met at every turn.
A parent of a central school candidate was informed that a clear medical
certificate could not be issued until treatment was obtained for a number of decayed
teeth in the child. The parent replied that he had been to a dentist who had
informed him that the teeth were not yet ready for extraction. The parent was then
asked to submit a dental certificate. When this was received it read, "I have
examined X's mouth and find six teeth requiring filling." This section of the
population, about 40 per cent. of the whole, is not yet educated up to the idea that
teeth may be saved by filling. They prefer to wait until pain gives the signal for
removal of the offending tooth by force.
The late Dr. F. C. Lewis received the following letter from a parent:—
Will you kindly inform the doctor that F. B.'s father is quite aware of the chief thing that is
destroying his child's teeth which is the scientific food he is compelled to live upon against the
express laws of God. So soon as so called savage races leave nature and become civilised their teeth
and stomachs go west and the need of doctors become necessary. Factory-made foods, preserving
and sterualising (sic) of food declare at once the corrupt state of foods and the cause of bad
teeth and stomachs.
Freddie's teeth must not be interfered with. Nature will put them right by casting them
out in their natural way. (Signed) Mr. A. B.