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 1948
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Enfield]
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36
OPHTHALMIC TREATMENT
Expectant and nursing mothers and children under 5 years of
age, with eye defects, were referred to the School Ophthalmic
Surgeon, until 5th July.
The following is a summary of the cases referred during that period:—
| Mothers. | Children. | |
|---|---|---|
| Total attendances | 22 | 124 |
| No. of individual cases | 17 | 74 |
| New cases | 15 | 40 |
| No. of glasses prescribed | 8 | 27 |
| Attendances for other than refraction | 1 | 13 |
| Referred to Hospital | 3 | 4 |
SPEECH CLINIC
The arrangement whereby pre-school children can be referred
to the Speech Therapist for training continued throughout the year.
CHILD LIFE PROTECTION—PLBLIC HEALTH ACT,
1936, AND CHILDREN ACT, 1948
The commencement of operation of the Children Act on 5th
July, 1948, placed responsibility for the Child Life Protection
provisions of the Public Health Act, 1936, on the newly created
Children's Committee of the County Council.
During the transition period, however, the Health Visitors
have continued their Infant Life Protection visits and the Department
has given all possible assistance to the Children's Officer.
DENTAL TREATMENT
The following particulars show the work carried out at the Dental Clinics for expectant and nursing mothers and children under the age of 5 years, for the year 1948:—
| Mothers. | Children. | Totals. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attendances | 896 | 351 | 1,247 |
| Treated | 281 | 224 | 505 |
| Administration of local Anaesthetic | 95 | 20 | 115 |
| Patients having local Anaesthetic | 95 | 18 | 113 |
| Extractions with local Anæsthetic | 178 | 28 | 206 |
| Administrations of nitrous oxide gas | 101 | 134 | 235 |
| Patients having nitrous oxide gas | 79 | 128 | 207 |
| Extractions under nitrous oxide gas | 685 | 346 | 1,031 |
| Total extractions | 863 | 374 | 1,237 |
| Nitrous oxide gas sessions | 44 | — | 44 |