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
Croydon 1910
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Croydon]
This page requires JavaScript
98
WORK OF THE HEALTH VISITORS.
The five health visitors have largely been employed in visiting
houses where non-notifiable infectious diseases have been reported
by school teachers, and in generally assisting in the work of medical
inspection. The number of visits paid in connection with this part
of their duty is shown in the following table:—
TABLE E. x.
| 1st Visits. | 2nd Visits. | |
|---|---|---|
| Measles | 978 | 48 |
| German Measles | 9 | - |
| Mumps | 9S8 | 57 |
| Whooping Cough | 497 | 60 |
| Chicken-pox | 563 | 28 |
| Sore Throat | 855 | 316 |
| Ringworm | 326 | 650 |
| Verminous Heads | 31 | 11 |
| Verminous Bodies | 41 | 4 |
| Impetigo Contagiosa | 485 | 839 |
| Scabies | 36 | 82 |
| Other Diseases | 770 | 348 |
| Totals | 5579 | 2443 |
| Cultures taken | 1443 | - |
| Visits paid to Elementary Schools | 324 | - |
| Other visits to Elementary Schools | 34 | - |
| Number of children prepared for medical inspection— | - | |
| Newly inspected | 6475 | - |
| Re-inspected | - | |
| Specially inspected | 271 | - |
| Home visits arising out of medical | ||
| inspection | 488 | I50 |
| Home visits for other information | 830 |
Since 1903 the Health Visitors have delivered addresses to
suitable audiences on "The care of young infants and domestic
hygiene." During the past winter it was thought desirable to
somewhat vary this work, and to bring it more specifically into
relation with a scheme for medical supervision of school children.
It was therefore decided to arrange for the delivery of a short
course of two lectures on "The health of the school child." In order
to emphasize the relation of these lectures to medical inspection, it
is intended to arrange for their delivery at various schools throughout
the borough. So far, this has been attempted at Boston Road,
Sydenham Road, Parish Church, St. Andrew's, and Ingram Road.