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 1936
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Bethnal Green Borough]
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53
INHALATION CLINIC.
This Clinic has continued to give treatment for
catarrhal conditions of the upper respiratory tract
by the inhalation of volatile oils atomised by the
passage of a current of oxygen. During the year
by the courtesy of the Inhaling Drug and Apparatus
Co., the original Spiess-Drager Inhaling Apparatus
has been replaced by the improved Collison type.
Pine oil and Cajuput oil in equal parts have been
used throughout the year. Three sessions are held
each week and the treatment is sometimes given in
addition to a course of Artificial Sunlight. It is
effective and pleasant and can be a useful aid to the
work in the infant consultations.
Records :—
Cases carried forward from 1935 9
New cases in 1936 :
Children 109
Subsequent treatments 1,115
New cases in 1936 :
Mothers 8
Subsequent treatments 55
Total treatments—1936 1,287
Cases carried forward to 1937 4
No. of sessions held in 1936 149
Average attendance per session 8.8
Clinical Analysis :—
| Cases | Cured | Improved | Lapsed | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bronchitis | 36* | 8 | 14 | 13 |
| Tracheitis | 2 | 1 | 1 | — |
| Fibroid Lung | 1 | — | 1 | — |
| Asthma | 1 | — | 1 | — |
| Emphysema | 1 | 1 | — | — |
| Tonsillitis | 1 | — | — | 1 |
| Catarrh after Influenza | 1 | — | 1 | — |
| ,, „ Whooping Cough | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| „ „ Measles | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| ,, ,, Pneumonia | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| „ with Rickets | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| ,, with Teething | 28 | 10 | 10 | 8 |
| Nasal Catarrh | 15 | 3 | 8 | 4 |
| Coughs and Colds | 13 | 2 | 8 | 3 |
*1 case no change.