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 1938
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Willesden]
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Concomitant Squint.
| Type of Squint. | No. of cases. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1934 | 1935 | 1936 | 1937 | 1938 | |
| Alternating Convergent | 13 | 15 | 26 | 19 | 16 |
| Alternating Divergent | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — |
| Right Convergent | 48 | 55 | 44 | 43 | 35 |
| Right Divergent | 3 | — | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| Left Convergent | 86 | 87 | 50 | 68 | 56 |
| Left Divergent | 3 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 2 |
| Right Upward | — | 1 | — | — | 1 |
| Left Upward | 1 | 1 | — | — | — |
Diseases of the Eyeball.
| Corneal Ulcer and Abrasion | 21 | 12 | 8 | 13 | 15 |
| Interstitial Keratitis | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Foreign Body | 6 | 9 | 9 | 14 | 10 |
| Iridocyclitis | 1 | — | 1 | 3 | — |
| Cataract | 1 | — | — | 1 | 1 |
| Retina (Diseases of) | 3 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| Choroid (Diseases of) | — | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
Congenital Malformations.
| Act. | No. of cases. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1934 | 1935 | 1936 | 1937 | 1938 | |
| Congenital Nystagmus | 5 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 5 |
| Microphthalmos | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Buphthalmos | 1 | 1 | — | — | — |
| Epicanthus | 2 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 7 |
| Ptosis | 2 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 5 |
| Persistent Pupillary Membrane | 1 | — | 1 | 2 | — |
| Congenital Cataract | 3 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 1 |
| Dislocation of Lens | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — |
| Coloboma of Iris | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | — |
| Congenital Abnormalities of Retina and Optic Disc | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
| Dermoid Cyst | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
Neurological Cases.
| 1934 | 1935 | 1936 | 1937 | 1938 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of cases | 5 | 4 | 3 | 10 | 5 |
The following cases were admitted to Hospital for operation or treatment:—
Squint 8
Ophthalmia Neonatorum 2
Interstitial Keratitis 1
Corneal Ulcer 1
Total 12
The work of the nursing staff, optician and district visitors has been efficiently maintained.
During the year an important new measure has been introduced, whereby all children suffering
from progressive myopia, or any other condition requiring supervision, may continue to receive
treatment after leaving school. Although the conditions of their employment render it impossible
for some cases to take advantage of this scheme, most parents appreciate the services offered, and
are anxious to avail themselves of the extended supervision. As in previous years, several cases of
squint have attended the Orthoptic Department of the Royal Westminster Ophthalmic Hospital.
The Council have undertaken to pay the Royal Westminster Ophthalmic Hospital at the rate
of £2 2s. per week less contributions received by the Hospital on behalf of the patient for children
sent by the Ophthalmic Surgeon for in-patient treatment.