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 1935
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Willesden]
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Table No . 8.
| Age Period. | 18 months. | 2 years. | 3 years. | 4 years. | Total. | Percentage. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of children inspected | 178 | 162 | 146 | 70 | 556 | |
| Malnutrition (including slight degrees) | 6 | 6 | 9 | 5 | 26 | 4.7 |
| Skin Conditions | 6 | 10 | 8 | 4 | 28 | 5.0 |
| Eyes—Blepharitis and Conjunctivitis | — | 2 | 2 | — | 4 13 7 | 4.3 |
| Squint | — | 4 | 7 | 2 | ||
| Other conditions | 1 | 3 | 3 | — | ||
| Ears, Otitis Media | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 0.9 |
| Nose and Throat—Enlarged tonsils or adenoids or both | 13 | 21 | 31 | 18 | 83 | 14.9 |
| Enlarged Cervical Glands | 6 | 7 | 15 | 9 | 37 | 6.6 |
| Teeth—Dental Diseases | 2 | 6 | 17 | 21 | 46 | 8.3 |
| Heart and Circulation (including anæmia) | 5 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 16 | 2.9 |
| Lung Disease (non-tubercular) | 9 | 4 | 10 | 4 | 27 | 4.9 |
| Nervous System (including functional conditions) | 5 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 15 | 2.7 |
| Deformities—Rickets | 4 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 14 | 2.5 |
| Others | 20 | 18 | 22 | 12 | 72 | 12.9 |
| Other Defects | 7 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 22 | 4.0 |
Ophthalmia Neonatorum.—The number of cases of this disease notified during the year
was 19, as against 28 last year, giving a case rate of 6.7 per 1,000 registered live births. A private
doctor attended at the confinement in 3 cases, a midwife in 4 cases, and 12 cases were born in hospital.
Treatment was obtained at a hospital in 8 cases, at the Municipal Centres in 8 cases, and by a private
doctor at home in 3 cases. Complete recovery with unimpaired vision occurred in l7 cases. 1
case died from marasmus and in 1 case the result of treatment was not ascertained.
Cases of inflammation of or discharge from the eyes of infants or of cases of ophthalmia neonatorum
entering Willesden after notification elsewhere are also visited by the Health Nurses.
Teaching of Mothercraft at the Centres.
An important part of the work of each Health Centre is its Mothercraft Section.
This is in special charge of one Health Visitor at each Centre, and holds its sessions in the
afternoons.
The work has proceeded on the same lines as outlined on page 10 of the 1931 Annual report.
During 1935, 520 Mothercraft sessions were held, with 5,343 attendances of mothers, and 5,299
attendances at the nurseries. This gives an average of 10.3 attendances of Mothers per session.
330 individual mothers attended.
THE SCHOOL MEDICAL SERVICE.
Schools.—There are 36 public elementary schools in the district. Of this number 24 are
Council and 12 church or non-provided schools.
Included in the number of the Council schools are 2 special schools, 1 for mentally defective
and 1 for physically defective children.
The hygienic condition of the schools in Willesden is very variable. Many of the more modern
schools leave little to be desired as regards ventilation, lighting, warming, equipment and sanitation,
but some of the other schools fall short of the standard desirable.
Water to the schools is supplied in all instances direct from the mains of the Metropolitan
Water Board.
Adequate facilities are provided for the supply of drinking water for the scholars.
Medical Inspection.—During the year ending 31st March, 1935, the average number of
scholars on the Public Elementary School Rolls, including the Special Schools, in Willesden was 20,677.
The following groups of children were examined during the year :—
(1) All children admitted to school for the first time;
(2) All children between 8 and 9 years of age; and
(3) All children between 12 and 13 years of age, together with children over 13 years of
age who had not been examined on reaching the age of 12.
The total number of children medically inspected at routine and special inspections during
1935 was 13,938.