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 1938
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
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Table 15
| Cause of suppuration | Total ears | Cured | Referred for mastoid operation | Lapsed | Still under treatment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acute otitis media suppurativa | 370 | 303 | 8 | 8 | 51 |
| Chronic otitis media suppurativa due to (I) Tympanic Conditions (a) Tympanic sepsis (T.S.) | 1,250 | 932 | 2 | 61 | 255 |
| (b) T.S. + granulations | 213 | 130 | 7 | 13 | 63 |
| (c) T.S. + polypi | 28 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 12 |
| 14 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 8 | |
| (e) T.S. + other conditions | 4 | 3 | 1 | — | — |
| (II) Tympanic Conditions with (a) Tonsils and adenoids | 202 | 124 | 6 | 13 | 59 |
| (b) Nose conditions | 487 | 317 | 2 | 30 | 138 |
| (c) Mouth conditions | 5 | 2 | — | 3 | — |
| (III) Tympanic Conditions with (a) Attic disease | 47 | 24 | 7 | 2 | 14 |
| (b) Mastoid disease (no operation yet done) | 153 | 8 | 124 | 1 | 20 |
| (e) Mastoid disease (operation already done) | 510 | 284 | 20 | 31 | 175 |
| (IV) Tympanic Conditions with (a) External otitis | 65 | 48 | 1 | 5 | 11 |
| (b) Stricture of meatus | 3 | 1 | 1 | — | 1 |
| External otitis | 168 | 137 | 1 | 7 | 23 |
| Cause undetermined | 2 | 2 | — | — | — |
| Total | 3,521 | 2,329 | 185 | 177 | 830 |
From these figures it will be seen that the percentage of "cases cured" is 69.6
per cent.
Orthopadie
treatment
The provision for orthopaedic treatment in London is adequate. As local education
authority, the Council has established 27 day schools for the physically defective
with accommodation for 3,157 children. These schools are regularly visited by an
orthopaedic surgeon. The care and education of cripples are continued at these
schools until they reach the age of 16, and a scheme of after-care of all children
subsequent to their leaving has long been in existence.
There are 10 visiting orthopaedic surgeons employed in connection with the
Council's general and special hospitals. There are two main special children's hospitals
maintained by the Council to which children suffering from orthopaedic defects
are admitted; one of these is Queen Mary's Hospital, Carshalton, at which there are
1,284 beds and where special facilities are provided for the treatment of orthopaedic
patients. There is no difficulty in finding accommodation immediately for all
such cases. These special hospitals are now recognised as hospital schools.
The number of children suffering from orthopaedic defects discharged after treatment
as in-patients in the Council's hospital schools during 1937 was 610, of whom
328 were non-tuberculous and 282 tuberculous. Consultations and after-care
examinations of children discharged from hospital are held by the orthopaedic surgeons
three times weekly at County Hall.