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
West Ham 1931
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for West Ham]
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| Tinea Tonsurans- | |
| Treated by X-Rays | 28 |
| Treated at Clinic | 18 |
| Tinea (Body) | 2 |
| Other Defects and Diseases | 21 |
| Total 462 | |
| Total number of children involved : 446 | |
Exclusions on account of Small Pox were dealt with chiefly
by the Medical Officer's Department.
(7) Following-Up.
At the time of Medical Inspection a following-up card is made
out for all children requiring treatment for any defects found. If
the case is not one requiring Clinic or Hospital treatment the child
is followed-up by home visits made by one of the School Nurses.
If the treatment required is beyond the scope of domestic
measures the family Doctor or Hospital is advised. Both home
and school visits are made in the course of following-up and the
case is not relinquished until adequate improvement is obtained.
Children requiring new glasses are followed up by one of the
School Nurses attached to the area, until glasses are obtained,
and these children and their glasses are re-inspected by the Doctor
within three months.
Cases of recovery from Ringworm treated by X-Rays are reinspected
at the Clinics.
All cases recommended for treatment, and those recommended
for observation only, form the basis of the Doctor's re-inspection
which takes place at a subsequent visit to the school.
The following Table gives a summary or work of the Nurses, in the process of following-up during the year:—
| Total number of children visited at home or school | 18486 |
| Total number of hours spent by Nurses in visiting Number of Re-inspections by School Doctors of | 3678 |
| Elementary school children | 9825 |
(8) Medical Treatment.
(a) MINOR AILMENTS.
There are many minor ailments amongst school children for
which the poor parents in this Borough will not seek medical aid
from a private Doctor or Hospital. For such, the Clinics are
available and Head Teachers are empowered to send all such
children who fall into this category to the School Clinics by means
of the Clinic attendance cards which are provided for the purpose.
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