London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Bethnal Green 1927

Report on the health of the Borough of Bethnal Green during the year 1927

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39
PROPHYLACTIC LIGHT TREATMENT.
During the year, a second ultra-violet ray lamp
(of the standard type) was purchased with a view to
the provision of light treatment as a prophylactic
measure for expectant and nursing mothers as well
as young children. In addition to the children referred
for treatment from the Council's Infant Consultations,
treatment was also given to children from the Bethnal
Green Day Nursery, Somerford Street. At the close
of the year, the prophylactic light treatment was put on
a more systematic basis as part of the development
of the Maternity and Child Welfare Service referred
to later in this report.
MASSAGE.
The number of massage sessions held was 250,
the number of children and mothers who received
massage was 137 (including 101 new cases) and they
made 1,730 attendances. The children and mothers
were referred to the massage room by the doctors
attending the consultations.
Every endeavour was made to teach the mothers
to carry out simple massage at home in order to
supplement the attendance at the Centre which had
to be perforce restricted to once or twice a week.

The conditions for which the children were referred were:—

Poor muscular development86
Rickets13
Knock-knee (5) Bowed legs (18)23
Flat feet4
Constipation5
Poliomyelitis2
Torticollis1
Congenital Dislocation of Hip1

Two mothers who were suffering from failure
of breast milk also received massage.