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
Holborn 1922
Annual report of the Medical Officer of Health for the year 1922
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| Reason for Attendance. | Number attending. | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Mothers— | John St. | Mary Ward. | |
| Difficulty with breast feeding | 92 | 1 | |
| Generative organs. | 19 | — | |
| Dental Caries | 98 | - | |
| Heart | 2 | _ | |
| Debility | 24 | 3 | |
| Anæmia | 63 | 6 | |
| Venereal Disease. | 5 | — | |
| Respiratory Disease | 9 | — | |
| Digestive Disorders | 10 | 1 | |
| Kidney Disorders | 1 | — | |
| Other Disorders | 24 | — | |
| Congenital syphilis | 1 | — | |
| Alimentary disorders | 269 | 30 | |
| Rickets | 50 | 4 | |
| Respiratory diseases | 175 | 15 | |
| Hernia, umbilical | 30 | 3 | |
| Phimosis | 41 | — | |
| Rash | 126 | 3 | |
| Disease of eye | 18 | 1 | |
| ,, ear | 28 | 5 | |
| ,, nose and throat | 56 | — | |
| Other Diseases | 25 | 7 | |
| Mothers. | Children. | Total | |
| Number referred to Clinic Dentist | 102 | 17 | 119 |
| ,, ,, ,, Hospitals | 16 | 84 | 100 |
| ,, ,, ,, Metropolitan Nursing Association 9 | 28 | 37 | |
| Assisted Milk Supply—Recommended for | 35 | 53 | 88 |
| Advised Convalescent Home Treatment | 17 | 17 | 34 |
| Ante-natal Clinic— | |||
| Expectant Mother | 18 | — | 18 |
| Post-natal | 9 | — | 9 |
Breast Feeding.
The following Table gives information relating to the duration of total or
partial breast feeding in the case of 351 children born in 1922.
The remainder of the children born in that year either removed from the
Borough or died before the end of the normal breast feeding period (40 weeks), or
were born in the latter months of the year and at the date of preparation of the
Table had not reached the age when normal breast feeding should cease.
It will be seen from the Table that at the end of three months 252 or 72 per
cent were still being entirely breast fed; 41 or 12 per cent. were receiving partial
breast feeding and 58 or 16 per cent. were then entirely bottle fed. At the end of
26 weeks 202 or 58 per cent. were entirely breast fed; 60 or 17 per cent. were
partially breast fed and 89 or 25 per cent. were entirely bottle fed. At the end
of 40 weeks 71 or 20.3 per cent. were still entirely breast fed; 156 or 44.4 per cent.
were partially breast fed and 124 or 35.3 per cent. were entirely bottle fed.