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 1938
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Croydon]
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The following Table gives a summary of work accomplished, and shows a welcome rise in conservative measures, especially for pre-school children: —
| Expectant. | Nursing. | Young Children. | Total. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1938. | 1937. | ||||
| Number Examined | 282 | 208 | 366 | 856 | 725 |
| Referred for Treatment | 267 | 185 | 333 | 785 | 669 |
| Attendances | 869 | 1363 | 877 | 3109 | 2470 |
| Fillings | 228 | 259 | 392 | 879 | 681 |
| Extractions | 1289 | 1281 | 1109 | 3679 | 2705 |
| "Gas" Cases | 177 | 203 | 271 | 651 | 450 |
| Local Anaesthesia | 224 | 231 | 45 | 500 | 413 |
| Scalings | 84 | 82 | 7 | 173 | 129 |
| Dressings | 171 | 191 | 70 | 432 | 259 |
| Denture Dressings | 77 | 699 | — | 776 | 473 |
| Gum Treatment | 17 | 19 | 2 | 38 | 34 |
| Silver Nitrate | 1 | 4 | 184 | 189 | 22 |
| Number of Sessions (Treatment) | 336 | ||||
| Dentures Fitted | 198 | ||||
| Inspections at Centres | 22 | ||||
| Appointments kept | 77% | ||||
Expectant Mothers.
The number of expectant mothers examined during the year
was 282 against 239 last year. Of these 267 were referred for
treatment compared with 225 in 1937. Attendances rose from 695
to 869. The number of fillings increased from 172 to 228; this
increase in conservative work is gratifying. The number of teeth
extracted also increased from 871 to 1,289. This figure is regrettably
large, but owing to the very septic condition prevailing in
many cases the only satisfactory measure to adopt was the removal
of all remaining teeth.