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 Hornsey, Borough of]
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Printed instructions regarding the after-care are supplied in all
cases.
(c) Tuberculosis.—All cases of definite or suspected tuberculosis
are referred either to their own doctors or to the Tuberculosis
Officer, 40 children having been referred to the latter officer during
the year. Considerable numbers of delicate children coming
from families where cases of tuberculosis have occurred have
been kept under observation during the year, some of them
having been sent to open-air residential schools for varying
periods.
(d) Skin Diseases.—The most common skin disease among
school children is impetigo, a certain type of sore found usually
on the face. One hundred and thirty-one cases of this disease
were treated at the central Clinic. Eighteen cases of ringworm
of the body, 8 of ringworm of the scalp and 16 of scabies or
itch were dealt with by the School Medical Service. Five of
the cases of ringworm of the scalp received X-ray treatment
Eleven of the children suffering from scabies attended the
Cleansing Station, making 35 attendances in all.
(e) External Eye Disease.—All cases of external eye
disease of any severity are seen by the School Oculist. During
the year 93 such cases were dealt with at the Eye Clinic, in
addition to 48 cases treated at the Minor Ailments Clinic.
(f) Vision—Four hundred and twenty-five defects of the
eye were treated by the School Oculist, and of these cases 349
consisted of errors of vision. Spectacles were prescribed for
211 children, and at the end of the year only 6 of these children
had not obtained their spectacles. The assistance of the Attendance
Officers and of the Care Committees has been particularly
valuable in this connexion.
(g) Ear Disease and Hearing.—Dr. Friel, Aurist to the
London County Council and to the Tottenham Education
Authority, attends at the Clinic every Saturday morning during
school terms for the purpose of inspecting and treating children
suffering from ear-discharge. Treatment by ionization has been
employed in many of these cases, and attention is directed to
the accompanying short report by Dr. Friel. An expert aurist's
opinion in cases of chronic ear-discharge is essential, and the
institution of an Aural Clinic has proved most successful in
Hornsey.