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
Erith 1937
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Erith]
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Ear Diseases and Defective Hearing.
Reference to Table IV will show that 43 defects were
treated during the year.
Dental Defects.
The year 1937 has seen another year's operation of the
extended dental scheme, introduced in September, 1935.
The extent of increase of dental work over previous years is well shown by repeating the table introduced last year, and brought up to date to show the figure for 1937.
| Year. | No. of fillings. |
|---|---|
| 1931 | 215 |
| 1932 | 195 |
| 1933 | 178 |
| 1934 | 226 |
| 1935 (extended service in operation during last quarter of year) | 394 |
| 1936 (first full year of extended service) | 791 |
| 1937 | 770 |
The present scheme is not capable of providing treatment
for all children found on inspection to require treatment and
consequently an attempt has been made to concentrate on the
lower age groups and reference to Group V page 21 will show
to what extent the increase in inspection of the earlier age
groups has been carried out.
There is still an obstinate belief among some parents that
the school dental service is anxious to fill milk teeth, in spite
of the most careful and constantly repeated advice that this is
not so. This at any rate is the excuse frequently put forward
for refusing to have fillings done. Reference to page 22, Group
V, paragraph 4, will show that no fillings of temporary teeth
were carried out.
Visual Defects and External Eye Disease.
The following notes have been supplied by the Ophthalmic
Surgeon—Dr. N. Howard Allen, M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P.
"Since my last report I have resumed charge of the
Ophthalmic Department—Minor Ailments having reverted to
the School Medical Officer. This is, from my point of view, a
more satisfactory arrangement."