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28
The lamp used at the Shoreditch Centre is a a Quartz Mercury
pheric lamp of Kelvin, Bottomly and Baird. It runs at an amperage of 4½—2½,
the latter figure being reached and maintained a few moments after the lamp is
started. The current is direct and the voltage 250.
The cases treated have been (a) infants and children under five years, referred
from the various Welfare Centres in the Borough, and (b) infants and children from
the Wards in the same building.
Patients suffering from tuberculosis are not treated at this Clinic. The cases
dealt with include rickets, debility, marasmus, anemia and general ill health and
failure to gain weight. Cases are not treated in groups according to disease. The
in-patients are treated in the mornings and do not mix with the afternoon patients.
Exposure is at three feet from the lamp. The routine dosage in minutes has
been as follows: 1—2—3—4—5—5—5—6—6—6—7—7—7—8—8—8—8 each
exposure being equally divided between front and back. In cases showing idiosyncrasy
the routine is modified. The children not resident in the institution are held
in front of the lamp by their mothers, and both mothers and children and all persons
working in the department wear goggles or shades, to protect their eyes.
There has been no case of inflammation of the eyes attributable to exposure
to the lamp.
The actual average duration" of treatment is affected by cases who are unable or
unwilling to continue their attendances. The average aimed at has been from four
to six months.
The temperature of each patient was taken before and after treatment for nearly
the whole of the period during which the work at the Clinic has been carried on.
In December, however, it was decided to discontinue taking the temperature after
exposure as this was found to involve considerable delay and there was no reason for
believing the temperature rose as a result of treatment, with the doses as given above.
The pulse is not taken as a routine. The weights of all patients are taken, and together
with dosage and temperature are recorded on the chart in use for each patient.
During the period under consideration, X-ray records have not been made, but it
is expected that arrangements will be made during the current year for cases being
referred from the Light Clinic for X-ray examination at St. Leonard's Hospital.
During the seven months the Clinic has been open, 138 children have received
treatment. The general opinion of parents and of the assistants at the Clinic is that
children are brighter and happier and that they eat and sleep more satisfactorily.
In this opinion the Assistant Medical Officer of Health concurs. He points out,
however, that these children also attend the Welfare Centres where their parents are
given general advice as to their management and where many also receive cod liver
oil. When facilities for X-ray records are available accurate information as to the
benefit derived in cases of rickets will be obtainable. A comparison of the weight
curve of a number of children receiving light treatment and a similar number not