London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Wood Green 1925

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Wood Green]

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so suffering is examined at stated times during the year. Most of
these cases are suitable for instruction in Open-Air Schools, and I
look forward to the time when such provision will be made. Fresh
air, sunlight, warmth and good food are the chief adjuncts to any
special treatment for defects of this kind.
(k) Clothing.
Dr. Boyd-Mackay remarks that there is rather a tendency in
the present day to under clothe the legs of young children—a practice
which leads to the so-called "growing pains" so often noticed in
early life, and which are often rheumatic in character.
6.—INFECTIOUS DISEASE.
A Table of periods of exclusion is set forth in the handbook of
School Regulations; and, in addition, I have issued information to
the Teachers on the early symptoms and signs of the common
infectious diseases of childhood, so that immediate exclusion may
be made when suspicion is excited.
7.—FOLLOWING-UP.
Medical Inspection may be said to be only the beginning of
improvement in a child's oondition, and is of little value unless the
remarks and advice of the Examiner are noted and carried out. The
sensible parent who is anxious about its child's welfare, will take
a hint at once and see that defects are ameliorated or remedied. It
is with the careless, uneducated and stubborn parents that our
Visitation Officers and Nurses have so much difficulty. Through
the Clerks in the Education Office, every defect is attended to', and
measures taken to ensure its being made good, veritable clearinghouse
for the various ills that children are suffering from, the cases
are automatically reported to the Dentist, Eye Surgeon, Nose and
Throat Department or Feeding Centre, as the case may be.
I have two full-time School Nurses. One is employed daily at
the Minor Ailment Clinic, and assists me at my Medical Inspection
and the Ophthalmic Surgeon at his Clinic. The other helps the
Dentist on two days a week, and specialises in inspecting the
children with respect to personal cleanliness in all the Schools.
8.—MEDICAL TREATMENT.
(a) Minor Ailments.
Treatment of Minor Defects is provided at the Minor Ailments'
Clinic on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday
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