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
Edmonton 1946
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Edmonton]
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(j) Heart Diseases and Rheumatism.
Dr. J. B. Alexander, F.R.C.P., attended the Clinic, held once monthly,
for the purpose of examining children suffering from rheumatism and diseases
of the heart.
The attendances for 1946 were 82 New Cases and 205 Old Cases—
total 287.
(k) Open Air School.
"The Open Air School has been in existence for over eight years, of
which six were war years with all their inevitable restrictions, compromise
and dislocation. The School buildings and fitments are unchanged since its
opening despite modifications called for in the light of experience. Notwithstanding
these conditions the School's work has continued to develop and
expand as experiment and trial have warranted.
"The report, submitted to you at the end of 1938, described the general
routine of the school day and explained its aims. In this report the results
thus far achieved and an account of the growth of our work are given.
Table A.
| Total number of admissions from April, 1938, to December, 1946 | 698 |
| Total number of admissions for the year ending December, 1946 | 75 |
| Total number of discharges for the year ending December, 1946 | 75 |
| The number on Roll on January 1st, 1946 | 140 |
| The number on Roll on December 31st, 1946 | 140 |
Table B.
The age range of the children at the beginning of the year was as follows:—
| Age | 6 | 7 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Total |
| No. | 1 | 15 19 | 34 | 15 | 21 | 17 | 17 | 1 | 140 |
"From a study of the age range in Table B it will be seen that a bulge
occurs at the age of 9 years. As there are discharges and new admissions three
times a year and children of any age from 7 to 14 years are admitted, the
bulge mentioned above might be flattened out or built up at some other age.
This complicates the school organisation and is best overcome by working
from term to term, reorganising at the beginning of each term after particulars
of the change in the school population have been studied.
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