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 1956
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Ealing]
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55
If upon examination I have found a child to be suf
fering from enlarged adenoids (often the cause of persistent
colds mouth breathing and deafness) they have been
referred for adenoidectomy.
Children with clinical symptoms of sore throat having
infected tonsils I referred for adeno tonsillectomy but
in the majority of cases all the above-mentioned symptoms
were treated successfully by conservative means such as
diastolisation politzerization and Eustachian catheterization
and breathing exercises,
In cases where sinusitis was confirmed by X Ray exam
ination Proetz displacement treatment was practised.
During the last year we have continued with hearing tests both with the gramophone and the pure tone Audio-metry. one was able in many cases by subsequent tests to show a great improvement in the child's hearing.
| 1955 | 1956 | |
|---|---|---|
| Number of new cases | 193 | 135 |
| Number of re inspections | 301 | 275 |
| Total attendances | 494 | 410 |
| Number treatment advised | 227 | 242 |
| Number operation advised | 106 | 83 |
Audiometry Report
| 1955 | 1956 | |
|---|---|---|
| Number of schools visited | 16 | 16 |
| Number of children examined | 6 700 | 6 225 |
| Number of children with hearing loss | 103 | 98 |
| Number of pure tone tests | 123 | 156 |
| Number referred to E.N.T. Specialist | 71 | 81 |
FOOT HEALTH
The regular inspection of our school children's feet
for defects has continued during this year, a total of
10,860 children having been seen by our specially trained
nurse. Of these children, 428 were seen by the Medical
Officer in charge of Foot Health.
The defects found were the same as in previous years
and were invariably associated with either short shoes or
poorly shaped ones.
In the age group five to twelve years, the children
on the whole are found to wear well-shaped shoes but wear
them for too long a period i.e. six months to one year or
eighteen months. In particular winter shoes are often