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

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Shoreditch 1926

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Shoreditch]

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trades in the Borough. Most of them are engaged in work connected with the making
of wearing apparel, artificial flowers, paper bags and boxes, and brushes.
Some 824 visits of inspection were made to places where home-work was being
carried on, and in connection with these 120 sanitary notices were served. The
cases of notifiable infectious disease occurring at out-workers' premises numbered 25
and included 3 of scarlet fever, 18 diphtheria, one erysipelas and three pneumonia.
The usual steps were taken in connection with them by the officers of the sanitary
authority.
MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE.
The births notified numbered 2,096 and there were in addition some 59 still
births. Of the notifications 1,483 were received from registered midwives practising
in the Borough. In addition, 332 births occurring in institutions outside Shoreditch
were notified weekly, on forms sent in by the London County Council. Including
these the live births notified during the year were approximately 96 per cent. of the
births registered during the year as compared with 94 per cent. in 1925, 98 in 1924, 88
in 1923, 88 in 1922, 98 in 1921, 85 in 1920 and 95 in 1919.
A summary of the work of the doctors and health visitors is appended (pp.66-71).
It follows generally on the lines of previous years.
An important item to be reported in connection with the work during 1926,
is the institution of an artificial sunlight clinic, which was opened on May 31st, at
the Model Welfare Centre. Treatment is given on Monday, Wednesday and Friday
afternoons. The general arrangements in connection with this treatment are under
the supervision of the Assistant Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Maitland Radford.
Dr. Radford attends the Clinic on Wednesday afternoons, when he sees every patient
undergoing treatment. Prior to taking charge of this Clinic, Dr. Radford attended
the Artificial Sunlight Department at University College Hospital.
The actual dosage is administered by Sister Pollard, who is also responsible for
keeping the records. Sister Pollard received a general training at the London
Hospital and has since undergone a course of training in Actino-Therapy, under
Professor Leonard Hill. At the time of her appointment here last May, Sister Pollard
had been for 10 months in charge of the Stratford Day Nursery Light Clinic and this
post she still holds.
Assistance has been obtained in the general management of the Clinic from
several ladies who have kindly given their services. Many of them have been members
of The Incorporated Society of Trained Masseurs and they have been desirous of
gaining an insight into this branch of treatment. It has been made clear to these
ladies that we do not undertake to give a definite course of instruction nor to issue
any certificate of proficiency. The voluntary assistance thus rendered has been
most valuable in carrying on the work at the Clinic and has obviated the necessity
of enlarging the salaried staff.