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
Bethnal Green 1930
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Bethnal Green Borough]
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55
It has been interesting to see how successful we have
been with cases of delayed dentition. There must evidently
have been an underlying tendency to Rickets.
As so many of our Mothers cannot get away for a
convalescent holiday after confinement, we are pleased to be
able to help them with Artificial Sunlight Treatment. They
are generally suffering from faulty calcium metabolism—
which causes general depression and ill-health. Violet Rays
by producing Vitamin D in the human body, seem to remedy
this.
We also had three cases of Lumbago and Neuritis who
did particularly well.
It is certainly worth a trial in case of failing breast
milk. We have had 15 cases of successful restoration this
year.
Another pleasing feature of the year's work is the way
we are now co-operating with the hospitals and local practitioners.
We had two cases sent to us from Great Ormond
Street, and one from the London Hospital, also two from
local doctors in Bethnal Green.
D. I. Mart.
ANALYSIS OF CASES.
| CHILDREN. | No. of Cases. | CHILDREN (Contd.) | No. of Cases. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rickets | 83 | Failure to gain weight | 9 |
| Catarrhal Children | 18 | Delayed dentition | 6 |
| Recurrent Bronchitis | 12 | Chilblains | 1 |
| Sub-Acute Bronchitis | 10 | Recurrent Blepharitis | 2 |
| Debility after Diphtheria | 2 | Septic Sores and Boils | 1 |
| ,, ,, Tonsillitis | 2 | Spasmophilia | 1 |
| ,, ,, Br.Pneumonia | 5 | Night Terrors | 2 |
| „ „ Measles | 8 | ||
| ., ,, Whooping Cough | 1 | MOTHERS. | |
| „ and Hypotonic Muscles | 16 | T.B. Knee Pregnancy | 1 |
| Rheumatism | 2 | Anaemia Debility and Pregnancy | 8 |
| Delicate Children | 5 | Pregnancy | 8 |
| Enl. Cervical Glands | 3 | Debility after Confinement | 14 |
| Breast Fed by debilitated Mother | 15 | Rheumatism | 6 |
| Lumbago and Neuritis | 3 | ||
| Marasmus | 8 | Restoration of Breast Milk | 15 |
| Backward development | 8 | ||
| Malnutrition | 3 | Failing Breast Milk | 7 |