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
Croydon 1934
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Croydon]
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267
does not spend his whole morning here, however, going on either to
a school for a medical inspection or to another Clinic. Medical
cases or cases requiring surgical measures are referred to their
private doctor or to hospitals. The aim of this Clinic is to render
first aid and to treat the minor disabilities peculiar to school children,
and to advise what further measures may be necessary.
A subsidiary Clinic is held at 206, Selhurst Road on five days
weekly. 445 children made 2,227 attendances during 1934. "
Table XIV.
| Complaint. | 1934. | 1933. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cases. | Attendances. | Average No of Attendances per case. | Cases | Attendances. | Average No. of Attendances per case. | |
| Ringworm of Scalp | 6 | 24 | 4.0 | 18 | 74 | 4.1 |
| ,, Body | 15 | 152 | 10.1 | 28 | 151 | 5.4 |
| Scabies | 44 | 175 | 4.0 | 88 | 264 | 3.0 |
| Impetigo | 221 | 1388 | 6.3 | 257 | 1568 | 6.1 |
| Other Skin Diseases | 82 | 209 | 2.5 | 124 | 448 | 3.6 |
| Otorrhœa and other Ear defects | 195 | 2020 | 10.4 | 294 | 4332 | 14.7 |
| External Eye Disease | 215 | 1044 | 4.9 | 192 | 1258 | 6.5 |
| Miscellaneous | 593 | 3595 | 6.1 | 642 | 3645 | 5.7 |
| 1371 | 8607 | 6.3 | 1643 | 11740 | 7.1 | |
From this table it is seen that the average number of attendances
per child decreased from 7.1 to 6.3; the total attendances
fell by 3,133, and the number of individual cases decreased by 272.
Otorrhœa is one of the most difficult of all minor conditions in
school children to cure, this being reflected in the large number
of attendances made for the remedying of this defect.
Impetigo still remains troublesome, but the cases of scabies
attending showed a marked decrease in number.
Adenoids and Enlarged Tonsils.
During 1934, 78 cases of tonsils only, 25 cases of adenoids
and, and 200 cases of adenoids and enlarged tonsils, a total of
cases, were recommended for treatment. In 197 cases the
Local Education Authority was requested to arrange for the
operation.