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
Willesden 1934
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Willesden]
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(2) Specialist Help.—The Council accept responsibility for the payment of the fee of one
of their specialists called in by a medical practitioner to assist him in connection with
a difficult case of labour occurring in a Willesden resident. 11 such consultations were
paid for in 1934.
(3) Provision of Ancesthetist.—The Council further accept responsibility for the payment of a
fee to an anaesthetist, called in by a medical practitioner in connection with confinement
cases. No such fee was paid in 1934.
Maternal Mortality.—The Council has continued to take part in the investigation of deaths
of mothers in childbirth for the Maternal Mortality Committee of the Ministry of Health. The
investigations are carried out by the Council's Consultant Obstetrician. 8 cases were inquired
into during 1934.
The services of the Council's Consultant Obstetrician are also available in cases of Puerperal
Fever and Puerperal Pyrexia when desired by the practitioner in attendance.
Health Visiting and Medical Inspection of Children between the Ages of
1 and 5 years.
The practice described under this heading on page 9 of the Annual Report for 1931 was continued
during the current year. The aims and methods adopted were outlined on pages 9 and 10 of the Annual
Report for 1932.
Findings of Medical Inspections.—The following table shows the numbers and percentages
of individual defects found in 544 children examined during the year.
Table No. 7.
| Age Period. | 18 months. | 2 years. | 3 years. | 4 years. | Total. | Percentage. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of children inspected | 167 | 177 | 103 | 97 | 544 | ||
| Malnutrition (including slight degrees) | 11 | 18 | 6 | 15 | 50 | 9.2 | |
| Skin Conditions | 12 | 12 | 8 | 4 | 36 | 6.6 | |
| Eyes—Blepharitis and Conjunctivitis | - | - | - | ||||
| Squint | 4 | 2 | 4 | 10 | 14 | 2.6 | |
| Other conditions | 1 | 1 | - | 4 | |||
| Ears, Otitis Media | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 1.6 | |
| Nose and Throat—Enlarged tonsils or adenoids or both | 19 | 23 | 20 | 24 | 86 | 15.8 | |
| Enlarged Cervical Glands | 5 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 21 | 3.9 | |
| Teeth—Dental Diseases | 7 | 9 | 17 | 35 | 68 | 12.5 | |
| Heart and Circulation (including anaemia) | 2 | 7 | 4 | 6 | 19 | 3.5 | |
| Lung Disease (non-tubercular) | 11 | 10 | 7 | 8 | 36 | 6.6 | |
| Nervous System (including functional conditions) | 9 | 9 | 10 | 4 | 32 | 5.9 | |
| Deformities—Rickets | 16 | 15 | 8 | 7 | 46 | 8.5 | |
| Others | 14 | 21 | 10 | 8 | 53 | 9.7 | |
| Other Defects | 4 | 14 | 6 | 7 | 31 | 5.7 | |
Ophthalmia Neonatorum.—The number of cases of this disease notified during the year
was 28, as against 20 last year, giving a case rate of 10.2 per 1,000 registered live births. A private
doctor attended at the confinement in 5 cases, a midwife in 8 cases, and 15 cases were born in hospital.
Treatment was obtained at a hospital in 5 cases, at the Municipal Centres in 13 cases, and by a private
doctor at home in 10 cases. Complete recovery with unimpaired vision occurred in 26 cases. 1
case died from congenital heart disease and in 1 case the result of treatment was not ascertained.
15 cases of inflammation of or discharge from the eyes of infants or of cases of ophthalmia
neonatorum entering Willesden after notification elsewhere were visited by the Health Nurses. All
recovered without any permanent injury to the eyes.