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 1940
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Ealing]
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21
Cases of scabies are treated by benzyl benzoate, a method
which has been in use for the past three years.
The number of cases of scabies is large and indicates an increase
over that* of the year before but the increase is not much greater
than in the year 1938 when there were 135 cases. The following
table indicates that scabies began to be more prevalent in 1937,
nearly three years before the outbreak of war. Whilst one could
put forward possible reasons for prevalence during war-time
conditions it is difficult to explain the increase in the number of
cases that preceded the war.
| Year | Under Authority's Scheme | Otherwise | Total Cases |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1930 | 16 | 5 | 21 |
| 1931 | 29 | 8 | 37 |
| 1932 | 9 | 1 | 10 |
| 1933 | 23 | 4 | 27 |
| 1934 | 12 | 2 | 14 |
| 1935 | 12 | - | 12 |
| 1936 | 25 | - | 25 |
| 1937 | 97 | - | 97 |
| 1938 | 128 | 7 | 135 |
| 1939 | 86 | 23 | 109 |
| 1940 | 141 | 8 | 149 |
Defective Vision.—The report of the Ophthalmic Surgeon,
Dr. J. G. Freeman Heal, is as follows :
"During the year 1940, 574 new cases were examined. Of
these 236 were seen at Mattock Lane, and 338 at Ravenor Park
Health Centre. Re-inspections numbered 577, of which 199 were
seen at Mattock Lane, and 378 at Ravenor Park.
Prescriptions for glasses were given in 835 cases.
The number of pairs of glasses obtained was 832.