London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Willesden 1910
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Willesden]
This page requires JavaScript
Perhaps the most urgent provision is that for the care of the
teeth. Decay of dental tissue is extremely prevalent, and its effect
on general health is very important on the one hand, while on the
other, familiarity has bred such contempt, that the most widespread
defect receives the most universal neglect.
The whole question of treatment is receiving the attention of
a special sub-committee appointed to consider the matter.
The following table shows the result of enquiry into the cases
specially referred to the School Medical Officer.
Cases dealt with as a result of reference from Assistant School Medical Officers of children suitable for domiciliary visitation by the Lady Health Visitors, 1910.
| Condition needing attention. | Number notified on H V. Card. | Number Visited. | Number Receiving Treatment at First Visit. | Number Receiving Treatment as a direct result of Visiting. | Number untreated at end of year. | Untreated at end of 1910, carried over from 1000. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. on Med. In. Schedule. | |||||||||
| Medical. | Domestic. | Medical. | Domestic. | ||||||
| 9 | Nutrition | 3 | 3 | 1 | - | - | 2 | - | - |
| 10 | Vermin and want of clean- liness | 323 | 323 | 3 | 116 | - | 203 | 1 | - |
| 11 | Teeth | 2 | 5 | — | — | 1 | - | 4 | 3 |
| 12 | Nose & Throat | 93 | 100 | 7 | 2 | 45 | 2 | 44 | 3° |
| 13 | Eves | 25 | 33 | 8 | 6 | 12 | 6 | 1 | 5 |
| 14 | Vision | 54 | 64 | 12 | — | 40 | — | 12 | 5 |
| 15 | Ear discharge | 6 | 26 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 4 | 1 | - |
| 17 | Speech | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | - | 1 | — |
| 18 | Mental condition | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 20 | Heart | 7 | 9 | 4 | - | 4 | — | 1 | — |
| 21 | Lungs | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | - | - | - | - |
| 22 | Nervous disorders | 3 | 3 | 3 | - | - | - | - | - |
| 23 | Tuberculosis | 15 | 17 | 11 | — | 6 | - | - | — |
| 25 | Deformities | 3 | 4 | — | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | |
| 26 | Infectious and contagious diseases | 391 | 404 | 103 | 173 | 78 | 49 | 1 | - |
| 27 | Other defects | 12 | 15 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | - |
| Totals | 941 | 1010 | t66 | 308 | 199 | 268 | 69 | 43 | |