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we have agreed to extend the scheme still further, to include school
entrants and school leavers attending certain of our schools. This
work gives us valuable information relating to tuberculosis, and
allows us to refer cases to the Chest Clinic for further investigation.
We were privileged to take part in an investigation relating
to the pre-menstrual syndrome, carried out by a general practitioner
in conjunction with a hospital medical officer. This investigation
has recently been published and won the Charles Oliver Hawthorne
Award of the British Medical Association. We now hope to cooperate
with the same general practitioner in a further study
relating to the treatment of toxaemia of pregnancy. This is an
extension of the previous work and will, it is hoped, produce significant
results which should materially advance our knowledge of
the cause and treatment of this distressing and serious phenomenon.
Although, as I have already indicated, work under the School
Health Service does not properly come within the scope of this
report, it might be noted that we co-operated with the Medical
Research Council in two schemes of research. One was designed to
investigate haemoglobin levels in the blood, with particular regard
to seasonal and other variations. The second investigation, which
is still proceeding, relates to the possible efficacy of B.C.G. inoculation
of school leavers. We were also able to assist in arranging
a visit of Mass Radiography Units to Southgate, Wood Green and
Friern Barnet and, for the first time, were permitted to include the
examination of school leavers. Our work also involves the carrying
out from time to time, of investigations which are requested for
County purposes, and also on behalf of the Ministry of Health and
other authorities.
As I have already stated, we are not ideally equipped to undertake
research on a large scale. None the less, this branch of our
work is so important that we feel more than justified in devoting
such time as is available to its pursuit.
17. ADDITIONAL
In addition to the work set out in the foregoing paragraphs we
carry out inspections of nursing homes, welfare establishments and
childrens homes in the Area. We are also responsible for duties
under the Nurseries and Child Minders Regulation Act.
Considerable work is done in regard to the medical assessment
of County staff appointed to or resident in Area No. 2, together
with the medical examination and assessment of Student Teachers,
prior to their entry to training colleges.
We are also responsible for assessing the needs of persons of
all ages applying for admission to holiday homes.
So far as these duties are concerned, it may be stated that the
Area staff is acting more or less directly on behalf of the County
Medical Officer.
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