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
Leyton 1950
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Leyton]
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The following is a summary of the work carried out:—
| Leyton Green Clinic | Essex County Training Home | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. of Sessions | 16 | 23 | 39 |
| Letters of Invitation | 151 | 241 | 392 |
| First Attendances | 97 | 176 | 273 |
| Re-Attendances | 122 | 192 | 314 |
The disposal of these cases was as follows:—
Discharged after one attendance 115
Re-attended for examination and treatment 121
Failed to re-attend 37
Conditions found on examination
| Leyton Green Clinic. | Essex County Training Home. | |
|---|---|---|
| Subinvolution of the uterus | 4 | 3 |
| Cystocele and rectocele | 4 | 12 |
| Retroversion of uterus | 11 | 15 |
| Anaemia | 3 | 9 |
| Cervical erosion | 12 | 88 |
| Vaginitis | 3 | 8 |
| Fibroid | 1 | — |
| Inflamed adnexa | 1 | — |
| Pregnancy | 2 | 1 |
| Cracked nipples | — | 3 |
| Sterility. | 1 | — |
| Birth control advice | 45 | — |
| Anal fissure | — | 3 |
Observation by Dr. R. Jacobs, Medical Officer, Post Natal
Clinic, Essex County Training Home.
Though these figures are relatively small, and therefore not
suitable for detailed statistical analysis, the results must be regarded
as very satisfactory.
In the first place, one must point to the high attendance rate,
which is a result of the educational work done by the District
Nurses. Their personal relation to the patient in the home is
naturally much more intimate than would be possible in hospital
and gives them much better opportunities to enlighten the mother
on the importance of the post-natal examination.
As for clinical results, I am most impressed by the rarity of
perineal tears in our cases. In hospital, perineal lacerations are