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
Willesden 1936
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Willesden]
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Findings of Medical Inspections.—The following table shows the numbers and percentages
of individual defects found in 556 children examined during the year.
Table No. 8.
| Age Period. | 18 months. | 2 years. | 3 years. | 4 years. | Total. | Percentage. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of children inspected | 141 | 225 | 101 | 89 | 556 | - |
| Malnutrition (including slight degrees) | 6 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 21 | 3.8 |
| Skin Conditions | 4 | 8 | 3 | - | 15 | 2.7 |
| Eyes—Blepharitis and Conjunctivitis | - | 6 | 1 | - | 7 | - |
| Squint | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 3.6 |
| Other conditions | 2 | 2 | - | 3 | 7 | - |
| Ears, Otitis Media | - | 1 | - | 2 | 3 | 0.5 |
| Nose and Throat—Enlarged tonsils or adenoids or both | 10 | 24 | 17 | 12 | 63 | 11.3 |
| Enlarged Cervical Glands | 2 | 4 | 9 | 2 | 17 | 3.0 |
| Teeth—Dental Diseases Heart and Circulation (including anaemia) | 2 3 | 5 10 | 16 8 | 19 3 | 42 24 | 7.5 4.3 |
| Lung Disease (non-tubercular) | - | 11 | 5 | 4 | 25 | 4.5 |
| Nervous System (including functional conditions) | 5 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 14 | 2.5 |
| Deformities—Rickets | 3 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 14 | 2.5 |
| Others | 21 | 34 | 21 | 3 | 79 | 14.2 |
| Other Defects | 3 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 22 | 3.9 |
Ophthalmia Neonatorum.—The number of cases of this disease notified during the year
was 19, this being the same number as last year, and giving a case rate of 6.7 per 1,000 registered live
births. A private doctor attended at the confinement in 4 cases, a district midwife in 3 cases, 10 cases
were born in hospital and 2 just before arrival at hospital. Treatment was obtained at a hospital in
8 cases, at the Municipal Centres in 6 cases, and by a private doctor at home in 5 cases. Complete
recovery with unimpaired vision occurred in 16 cases. In 1 case there was corneal opacity of the left
eye which was stated not to interfere with the vision, 1 case left the district and 1 case was still under
treatment at the end of the year.
Cases of inflammation of or discharge from the eyes of infants or of cases of ophthalmia neonatorum
entering Willesden after notification elsewhere are also visited by the Health Nurses.
Teaching of Mothercraft at the Centres.
An important part of the work of each Health Centre is its Mothercraft Section.
This is in special charge of one Health Visitor at each Centre, and holds its sessions in the
afternoons.
The work has proceeded on the same lines as outlined on page 10 of the 1931 Annual Report.
During 1936, 530 Mothercraft sessions were held, with 5,198 attendances of mothers, and 4,985
attendances at the nurseries. This gives an average of 9.8 attendances of Mothers per session. 362
individual mothers attended.
THE SCHOOL MEDICAL SERVICE.
Schools—There are 36 public elementary schools in the district. Of this number 24 are
Council and 12 church or non-provided schools.
Included in the number of the Council schools are 2 special schools, 1 for mentally defective
and 1 for physically defective children.
The hygienic condition of the schools in Willesden is very variable. Many of the more modern
schools leave little to be desired as regards ventilation, lighting, warming, equipment and sanitation,
but some of the other schools fall short of the standard desirable.
Water to the schools is supplied in all instances direct from the mains of the Metropolitan
Water Board.
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Adequate facilities are provided for the supply of drinking water for the scholars.
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