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
Leyton 1938
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Leyton]
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The following table shows these results :
| Cured. | Improved. | Stationary. | Worse. | Total. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colds ... | 6 | 5 | 10 | — | 21 |
| Bronchitis | 3 | 16 | 5 | — | 24 |
| Nervous Children | — | 2 | 1 | — | 3 |
| Debility | 11 | 12 | 4 | — | 27 |
| Undernourished | — | 3 | 2 | 2 | 7 |
| Styes | 12 | 3 | 3 | — | 18 |
| Boils and sores | 11 | 3 | — | — | 14 |
| Rheumatism | 9 | 4 | 1 | — | 14 |
| Enlarged glands | 2 | 1 | 2 | — | 5 |
| Asthma | — | — | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| Total | 54 | 49 | 31 | 3 | 137 |
Aural Clinic.
The following is an abstract from a report submitted by your
School Medical Officer to the Local Education Authority in January,
1938 :—
Board of Education Circular 1444 states :—
" In view of the need for expert treatment of ear diseases, which may
result in deafness, it is very desirable that Authorities, which have not yet
done so, should arrange for the services of part-time aural specialists who
would visit the areas periodically and advise as to the treatment of such
cases. The work of the specialists should be closely co-ordinated with that
of the aural surgeons employed by Authorities responsible for the maintenance
of Isolation Hospitals, since so many ear defects in children are
the result of attacks of acute infectious disease."
Acute middle ear disease is generally due to septic infection of the nose and throat,
the commonest causes being the common cold, scarlet fever, measles, diphtheria
whooping cough, etc. Chronic middle ear disease is due to lack of adequate
skilled treatment during the acute stage. In the acu,te stage middle ear disease
often endangers life ; in the chronic stage it may cause deafness or lifelong invalidity
and disability.