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 1941
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Ealing]
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20
ARRANGEMENTS FOR TREATMENT.
Minor Ailments and Diseases of the Skin.—The treatment
of minor ailments carried out at the Health Centres is shown in
Table 3, Group 1 (page 00). It will be seen that as many as 79.5
per cent. of the children found to be suffering from minor ailments
on medical inspection attended the Health Centres for treatment.
The number of cases treated and the total number of attendances made were as follows :—
| Condition Treated | No. of cases treated | Total attendances made |
|---|---|---|
| Skin : | ||
| Ringworm | 11 | 58 |
| Scabies | 328 | 591 |
| Impetigo | 104 | 990 |
| Others | 255 | 1,690 |
| Minor eye defects | 156 | 892 |
| Minor ear defects | 187 | 2,310 |
| Mixcellaneous : | ||
| Minor injuries | 624 | 4,096 |
| Sores | ||
| Others | ||
| Total | 1,665 | 10,627 |
Scabies.—During the year scabies became still more prevalent
than in the preceding years, no fewer than 347 cases being found
amongst school childre , of whom 328 received treatment at the
Health Centres. The treatment applied was benzyl benzoate in one
application, advice being given that a bath should be had two days
later and clean clothes put on. No disinfection of clothing was
carried out. Benzyl benzoate, as checked by subsequent reinspections,
has been proved to be very effective.
Contacts of these cases were followed up at home by the
School Nurses, and in consequence 187 children under school age
and adults suffering from scabies received similar treatment at the
Health Centres. Private practitioners referred 28 cases for