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

London County Council 1931

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]

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Table: First Re-inspections, 1931. (Percentages are given in italic type.)

First Re-inspections, 1931. (Percentages are given in italic type.)

Defect treated.Treated.Untreated.
By private doctor.Under Council's scheme.At other hospitals.Cured naturally.Improved. For observation only.Still needing treatment.
Cured.Not cured.Cured.Not cured.Cured.Not. cured.
Refraction19,839167765,1732,8045913961,2643,7345,634
0.80.426.114.13.02.06.418.828.4
Minor ailments6,983198341,7044824322711,8559101,097
2.80.524.46.96.23.926.613.015.7
Nose and throat16,95556165,9632981,0521021,4841,8856,099
0.30.135.21.86.20.68.711.136.0
Teeth53,6001,36930822,0726871,6021783,86386522,656
2.60.641.21.33.00.37.21.642.3
Other ailments11,420233802034281,3961,2172,6853,5231,655
200.71.83.712.210.723.530.914.5
Total108,7972,02351435,1154,6995,0732,16411,15110,91737,141
1.90.532.34.34.72010.2100341
Second Re.inspections, 1931.
Refraction13,53086682,4711,5013723261,1943,2464,266
0.60.518.311.12.72.48.824 031 .5
Minor ailments3,4374816582347181160925501677
1.40.516.910.15.34.726.914.619.7
Nose and throat9,9882612,581102615671,4611,5323,603
0.30.025.8106.20714.615.336.1
Teeth27,0107281768,803349822992,79858712,648
2.70.732.61.3300.410.32.246.8
Other ailments7,11274541353266357201,7492,481938
100.81.94.68.910124.634.913.2
Total61,07796231514,5722,6252,6251,3728,1278,34722,132
1.60.523.94.34.32.213.313.736.2

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Cases
referred to
the
N.S.P.C.C.
Aural
disease and
scarlet fever.
Children's
care
committees.
Organisation
and duties.
Where there is persistent neglect to obtain treatment the case is referred to the
N.S.P.C.C. to endeavour to persuade the parents to obtain the necessary treatment.
In certain cases the Society takes legal proceedings under section 12 of the Children
Act. During 1931, 721 cases, involving 830 defects, were reported to the Society :
these included 375 dental defects, 292 vision cases, 84 nose and throat affections
and 30 cases of ear disease or deafness.
Owing to the close connection between certain infectious diseases and ear trouble
an arrangement is made by which notification is received of children who have suffered
from ear discharge while in a fever hospital. The names of infants under school
age are sent to the local medical officers of health for the necessary action, while
children of school age are examined by the school doctors at intervals of six months,
until at two consecutive examinations no symptoms of the disease are found. The
number of cases reported was 269, of which 32 were forwarded to borough councils
or other local authorities. Of the cases followed up at school, 15 were found on the
first examination to have otorrhcea, 8 of these had cleared up on second examination,
and 3 were still affected ; the other 4 had not yet had a second examination. Two
cases which were free from discharge at the first examination were found to be
affected at a second inspection. All the cases not cleared up are being kept under
observation.
The following.up of children found to be in need of treatment or special observation
is carried out by the school care organisation. The activities of the care organisation
have been described as follows in a recent report by Miss Helen Nussey, the
principal organiser :—
There are approximately 1,000 elementary schools in which some 630,000 children are educated.
For each school the Council has organised a care committee, which is a self.governing