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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
Willesden 1932
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Willesden]
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APPENDIX E.
REPORT ON WORK IN THE EYE DEPARTMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED
31st DECEMBER 1932.
by
FRANK W. LAW, M.A., M.D., F.R.C.S., B.Chir., Ophthalmic Surgeon to the Council.
A comparison of the figures for this year and those for the two preceding years shows that the numbers attending this Department are steadily increasing.
| Tothl Attendances. | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1930 | 3,740. | |
| 1931 | 6,118. | |
| 1932 | 7,303. | |
| 1930 | 1,351 1,030 | 76.2% |
| 1931 | 1,427 1,220 | 85.5% |
| 1932 | 1,782 1,546 | 86.7% |
These numbers have occasionally necessitated the booking of an undesirable number of refraction
appointments for one morning,—up to twenty—especially at Clinics 2 and 3; there have also
been sessions at Clinic 2 at which the total number of cases seen has been between 80 and 90. It
is difficult in these circumstances to prevent the session from degenerating into a race against time ;
since, however, the excessive numbers were probably largely due to the experiment in subjective
testing outlined below (which has now been abandoned) it is thought that it will be possible to avoid
such unmanageable numbers in the future.
The general routine at the Sessions is unaltered. The standard of treatment is higher than
in previous years, the cure of only a very few cases being delayed by lack of enthusiasm and cooperation
in treatment at home. Operation cases have been dealt with either at the Central London
Ophthalmic Hospital, or at Paddington Green Children's Hospital, as heretofore. The dispensing
of Refraction prescriptions has been satisfactorily carried out.
In an effort to treat progressive myopia by more than the usual recognised methods, a recent
innovation in treatment has been adopted. On the presumption that the stretching of the Sclerotic,
which occurs in progressive myopia, is associated with a low Calcium content, selected cases shewing
definite and regular increase in myopia have been started upon a course of Calcium Lactate with
small quantities of Extract of Parathyroid Gland as an adjuvant. It is necessary to continue the
exhibition of these drugs for prolonged periods before any conclusions can be drawn ; the cases will
therefore be tested for a year, and a report on their refractive errors then made.
The figures for the year are as follows :—
| Total Attendances. | Number of Sessions. | Average Attendance per Session. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clinic 1 | 2,196 | 45 | 48.8 |
| Clinic 2 | 2,433 | 49 | 49.6 |
| Clinic 3 | 2,674 | 49 | 54.5 |
| Appts. made. | Average per Session. | Appts. kept. | Average per Session. | Percentage Attendance. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clinic 1 | 507 | 11.3 | 420 | 9.3 | |
| Clinic 2 | 607 | 12.4 | 550 | 11.2 | 90.6% |
| Clinic 3 | 13.6 | 576 | 11.8 |
Analysis of Refraction Cases.—As mentioned in my report for 1931, I kept notes this year of
the nature of the refractive error of all cases examined. The results are given below ; in classifying
the cases no fixed minimum was taken for all cases, as is commonly done, since the error involved