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
Enfield 1937
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Enfield]
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95
Eye Diseases and Defects.—Thirty-two children were found to be
suffering from external eye disease. Thirty-one were referred for
treatment to the minor ailment clinic and one was kept under
observation. 277 cases of defective vision were referred for treatment
to the Ophthalmic Clinic or hospital; 40 of these had squint.
The following is a comparative table for the last five years :—
| 1933 | 1934 | 1935 | 1936 | 1937 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of children examined | 2,869 | 3,378 | 3,436 | 3,819 | 3,967 |
| Number of children with defective vision | 296 | 234 | 200 | 220 | 237 |
| Percentage of children with defective vision | 10.3 | 6.9 | 5.9 | 5.8 | 5.9 |
| Number of children with squint | 21 | 40 | 43 | 46 | 40 |
| Percentage of children with squint | 0.7 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 1.1 |
In 1934 arrangements were made with the Western Ophthalmic
Hospital that for a fee of ten guineas per annum the hospital should
accept for in-patient or out-patient treatment all children referred
there by the School Ophthalmic Surgeon.
During the course of the year the following cases were referred
to the Western Ophthalmic Hospital :—
6 for operation for squint.
10 for other conditions.
1 for operation for detached retina.
In addition to these, 28 children attended the hospital during the
year for treatment for squint, making a total of 253 attendances.
Tuberculosis.— No cases of pulmonary tuberculosis were found.
Crippling Defects.— The following defects were seen during the
course of Routine Medical Inspection :—
3 cases of infantile palsy.
1 case of hemiplegia.
5 cases of spinal curvature.
1 case of cleft palate.
1 case of spastic diplegia.
1 case of severe flat foot.
1 case of cleft palate and hare lip.
1 case of old tuberculous shoulder.
1 case of dwarfism.
1 case of congenital dislocation of hip.
1 case of hammer toe.
1 case of talipes equinus.
1 case of Perthe's disease.