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
Lewisham 1936
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Lewisham Borough]
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22
Nursing in the Home.
The cases nursed during
1936, and the number of visits made, are shown in the following table:—
| Nature of Illness. | No. of Cases. | No. of Visits. |
|---|---|---|
| Measles | 44 | 530 |
| Pneumonia | 69 | 1,431 |
| Whooping Cough | 2 | 28 |
| Ophthalmia Neonatorum | 2 | 88 |
| Totals | 117 | 2,077 |
Infant Life Protection.
The number of foster-mothers on the Register at the end of
the year was 131, and the children in their care numbered 199.
The officer charged with supervising the welfare of these infants
made 1,706 visits to their homes during the year.
Eight nurse-children died.
Children under School Age.
Ministry of Health Circular 1550 (29th May, 1936).
This Circular is on the subject of the arrangements made by
local Authorities for the supervision of the health of children not
in attendance at school.
The Minister states that he is convinced that, in general, these
arrangements are satisfactory in so far as they apply to children up
to the age of 18 months or 2 years, and the striking fall in the infant
mortality rate, which last year was the lowest on record, namely—
57 per 1,000 births, testifies to the value of the work performed
under Maternity and Child Welfare Schemes for the benefit of
children in the first year of life.