View report page

103
Report of the Medical Officer of Health.
Dental Treatment.
In May the arrangements made by the Council with the British
Dentists' Hospital, Clapham Common, came into force. 70 cases
(58 women and 12 children) availed themselves of the opportunity
to have dental treatment, and 137 attendances (118 women and 19
children) were made.
The number will be increased in 1920, as it was not widely
known, and it is difficult to educate people to realise the importance
of sound teeth.
Nine women had dentures, the charge varying from 21s. for
a few teeth up to £4 10s. for a full set, the charge is according to
the number of teeth inserted.
The medical officer at each Infant Welfare Centre examines
carefully the teeth of the mothers and children and recommends
treatment when necessary.
Puerperal Fever.
There were 28 cases of puerperal fever notified (three in Clapham,
two in Putney, eight in Streatham, three in Tooting, and 12 in
Wandsworth). Five were midwives' cases, 11 were miscarriages,
in four instances the child was still-born, 14 patients were removed
to hospitals and 11 to St. James's Infirmary; 16 of the cases proved
fatal.
Ophthalmia Neonatorum.
54 cases were notified, of which 17 were in Clapham,
three in Putney, 16 in Streatham, two in Tooting, and 16 in Wandsworth.
All the cases were visited. 24 were attended at birth by
midwives, five of the cases in Streatham and four in Clapham
occurred in maternity homes.
10 were treated in hospital as out-patients, 16 as in-patients,
and the remainder were treated at home. One case removed from
the district before recovery, four died, and two cases are still under
treatment. In no instance has the sight of either eye been impaired.
18 cases were notified by midwives. In 13 cases the
district nurse was asked to attend, and 612 visits were made.