Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Poplar, Metropolitan Borough]
This page requires JavaScript
125
observe the progress of the cases in the Wards. The patients sent by the
Medical Officers of the clinics were dealt with in three ways. Some came
for an opinion only and were dealt with at a single consultation. Others
were admitted to the Observation Ward as In-patients. A numerous
group attended as Out-patients for varying lengths of time. The last
generally attended not only at the regular consultations but also in the
intervening period, while a watch was kept on their progress by the Ward
Staff, who were ready to report any matter of difficulty.
In-patientsThe number of admissions to the Ward during the year
was 30. The nature of the cases admitted was variable, but the greater
number comprised a class of infant in whom artificial feeding had proved
a difficulty, generally as a result of some mistake in the method of feeding.
The next largest group was composed of children in whom the fault was
constitutional, and showed itself in the form of a great difficulty in getting
them to thrive on any fare, no matter how carefully prescribed. Such are
the cases under the names of Marasmus and Cows' Milk Atrophy. In a
third group the mother's power of managing her child had broken down,
and in an atmosphere of over-anxiety the child refused to thrive. We
called these cases Nervous Unrest or Food Refusal: the names sufficiently
describe the nature of the condition. In the fourth group faulty hygiene
at home had produced the state of malnutrition known as Rickets. These
children were admitted to give them a start. Once under good conditions
they made astoundingly good progress.
The following is a list of different kinds of cases admitted:-
| (i) Dyspepsia and Malnutrition due to Mismanagement of Artificial Feeding | 14 |
| (ii) Marasmus | 4 |
| (iii) Cows' Milk Atrophy | 2 |
| (iv) Nervous Unrest | 2 |
| (v) Food Refusal | 1 |
| (vi) Rickets | 4 |
| (vii) Malnutrition from Previous Illness | 1 |
| (viii) Malnutrition from Failure of Breast-Feeding | 2 |
| 30 |
When the children had been admitted, four objects were left in view—
(i) To retone the damaged digestive powers: (ii) To get the child into a
thoroughly good state of nutrition: (iii) To see it become a happy and