View report page

12
This difficulty is especially great in very young children, that is under the age of four years, whom it is difficult to
induce to keep still during the X-Ray treatment. The Borough no longer has the facilities for treating cases with
X-Rays and the various London hospitals refuse to undertake cases below school age. These cases are important
because they occur in children whose mothers desire to leave them in charge of the various Day Nurseries in the
Borough while they themselves go out to work. If not speedily cured they become dangerous sources of infection.
At the present moment negotiations are going on with a view to getting these cases properly and promptly dealt with.
Another difficulty that has recently arisen is in connection with the treatment of Naevi, or birth marks, in young
babies. For many years these cases have been sent by the Borough Dermatologist to the Radium Department of the
Royal Free Hospital where they were very successfully treated by the Radium Officer there, Mrs. H. M. Hill. In the
course of about ten years no less than 265 cases were dealt with by her without any expense falling upon the Borough.
Now, unfortunately, Mrs. Hill has had to terminate her tenure of office owing to ill-health, and the Radium Department
of the Royal Free Hospital has closed down—at all events for the time being. Arrangements have now been entered
into with the Radium Institute for the treatment of these cases. This involves a journey to Northwood, a journey
which is no light matter for the mothers of infants under war-time conditions.
With these two exceptions the work of the Dermatological Department has not been very much affected. It
cannot be said that any form of skin disease (other than scabies) has either much diminished or increased during the
last five years.
The treatment of ulcerated legs by means of adhesive elastic bandages, which was started about 1932, has been
extremely successful. Very few cases are now seen of the large ulcers which were formerly so common, because when
tackled in the early stages varicose ulceration can usually now be cured without much difficulty.
Eye Department.—Mr. B. R. Medlycott, m.b., b.s., m.r.c.s., l.r.c.p., d.o.m.s., Ophthalmic Surgeon to
the Council.—During 1943 Dr. Catherine Orr-Ewing and Mr. L. Mushin have carried on the work of this
department in the absence of Mr. Medlycott, on War service.
Dr. Orr-Ewing reports as follows:—
" The main features of the year's work are:
(1) The much more regular attendance of children at clinics—especially in keeping their refraction
appointments—since they have settled down to normal life on their return from evacuation.
(2) The increased co-operation of parents of "squinters," several of whom have had very successful
operations performed at hospital.
One or two of these have even gone as far as the Royal Eye Hospital, S.E., for orthoptic treatment after operation
with satisfactory results. The ideal condition would be to have an Orthoptic Clinic in the Borough—where all
these children could have post-operative or prophylactic training."
Mr. L. Mushin reports as follows:—
"Notes re Eye Clinic, Willesden:
(1) The number of attendances at the Eye Clinic is increasing rapidly, owing to the return of children from
the Evacuation centres, so that more clinics are becoming necessary.
(2) The position as far as the provision of spectacles is concerned, which until recently involved considerable
delay, is now much improved.
(3) The incidence of phlyctenular conjunctivitis seems to be diminishing, associated with the general
improvement of health of the school child, in spite of war conditions.
(4) Cases of chronic blepharitis, which used to drag on for months, now respond rapidly, due to the
introduction of the newer therapeutic compounds for local application.
(5) Squint cases, in addition to being provided with the necessary correcting spectacles, may derive benefit,
in suitable cases, from a course of orthoptic training, and the desirability of having a trained Orthoptist,
working under the direction of the Ophthalmic Surgeon, with the provision of orthoptic apparatus,
might be considered in the future, as well as arrangements for operative treatment in some cases."
Mental Health.—Dr. Reginald Lightwood, m.d., f.r.c.p., d.p.h.
Orthopaedic Department.—J. A. Cholmeley, f.r.c.s.
Ear, Nose and'Throat Department.—G. H. Livingstone, f.r.c.s.
The work of these departments has continued uneventfully throughout the year.
HOME NURSING SERVICE.
The Home Nurse employed by the Council nursed 312 cases during 1943, and in connection with such cases
paid 1,689 visits.
Of the 312 cases nursed during 1943, 302 were new cases. 293 of these 302 new cases were referred by the
Health Department for nursing, 6 by private doctors and 3 by hospitals, associations or private persons.
Ophthalmia cases received 378 visits.
SANITARY SECTION.
During the year the Chief Sanitary Inspector and 11 District Sanitary Inspectors were on the staff. One of
these commenced his duties on the 1st March, 1943. The Chief Sanitary Inspector, however, was away from duty
from February because of illness and he died in November. A District Inspector was appointed temporary Deputy
Chief Sanitary Inspector in February, 1943.
The number of premises inspected on complaint was 3,783 and the total number of inspections and re-inspections
was 24,216.
In addition to ordinary sanitary work the Sanitary Inspectors were engaged on Civil Defence duties, such as
Control Room work, Food Decontamination Training, Billeting and Supervision of Shelters.
A special survey of the extent of rat infestation in the Borough was made following direction by the Minister
of Food.