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
Ealing 1938
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Ealing]
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ORTHOPAEDIC CASES, 1938.
Children under 5 years seen by Surgeon during year.
| Boys | Girls | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flat Feet | 3 | 4 | 7 |
| Pes piano valgus | 14 | 7 | 21 |
| Intoeing | 5 | 5 | 10 |
| Metartarsus varus | 4 | 5 | 9 |
| Congenital calcano-valgus | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| Congenital club foot | — | 1 | 1 |
| Congenital abnormality toes | 9 | 1 | 10 |
| Congenital pes cavus | 1 | — | 1 |
| Genu Valgum (non-rickety) | 56 | 43 | 99 |
| Genu Varum (non-rickety) | 5 | 1 | 6 |
| Genu Varum—rickety | 40 | 24 | 64 |
| Torticollis | 10 | 10 | 20 |
| Congenital abnormality of fingers | 4 | 1 | 5 |
| Erb's Paralysis | 1 | 1 | |
| Separation of lower femoral epiphysis | 1 | — | 1 |
| Congenital dislocation of hip | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Anterior Poliomyelitis | — | 3 | 3 |
| Spastic Haemiplegia | 1 | — | 1 |
| Flat Chest | 1 | — | 1 |
| Haematoma of ankle | 1 | — | 1 |
| Assymetry of skull | 1 | — | 1 |
| Injury to scapulae | — | 1 | 1 |
| Total | 161 | 109 | 270 |
| No treatment required | 7 | 6 | 13 |
(g) Defective Speech.—Speech defects are usually evident
in the pre-school period. Whilst some children show no other
abnormality many are of a nervious type. In others, physical
defects, such as cleft palate, or constitutional disease, such as
chorea and epilepsy, or the sequelae of an infection like meningitis,
are contributory factors. Injury, where it is of the nature of mental
shock, as in concussion, can determine the onset of a speech defect.
In some few cases an hereditary influence or an imitative factor
is traceable.
Children are admitted to the speech class only after they have
reached the age of seven years. Before entry to the class a complete
medical examination of each child is made and advice offered, if
necessary, regarding the general health. Thereafter the children
attend the Health Centre twice weekly and receive instruction in
rhythmical breathing exercises, the principles of relaxation, and
speech exercises. This part-time method interferes very little with
the ordinary school curriculum,