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
Shoreditch 1936
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Shoreditch]
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The conditions for which treatment was given during the year are shown in the following table:—
| Muscular weakness | 30 | Anaemia | 14 |
| Debility | 80 | Bronchitis | 12 |
| Rickets | 48 | Malnutrition | 36 |
| Late results of rickets | 15 | For prophylactic purposes | 53 |
| Enlarged glands | 2 | Other minor conditions | 35 |
The diagnosis and progress of all cases referred to this clinic for rickets is
confirmed by radiological examination. This work is carried out at St. Leonard's
Hospital. The number of X-ray examinations made during the year was 42.
The members of the Sutton Branch of the Voluntary Aid Detachment continued,
as they have done for many years, to render invaluable assistance at this clinic.
Dental Clinic.
The dental treatment of cases of mothers and children referred by the clinic
doctors is carried out by the dental surgeons in the municipal dental hospital. The
The following table summarises the work done in connection with this branch of the maternity and child welfare work since the hospital was opened on a full-time basis.
| Year. | First attendances. | Total attendances. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mothers. | Children. | Mothers. | Children. | |
| 1931 | 309 | 217 | 1,410 | 401 |
| 1932 | 306 | 223 | 1,421 | 426 |
| 1933 | 272 | 217 | 1,263 | 464 |
| 1934 | 266 | 263 | 1,541 | 680 |
| 1935 | 240 | 216 | 1,325 | 478 |
| 1936 | 245 | 310 | 1,365 | 716 |
During the year 245 women were referred from the maternity centres for dental
examination; 212 of these attended for a course of treatment. 1,365 visits were
paid in all. 310 children were referred from the maternity centres, and 262 attended
for a course of treatment. The total number of visits paid was 716. Further particulars
regarding this work is given in the section on the dental hospital.
Otorrhœa Cases.
For a number of years the otorrhœa clinic was held at the Model Welfare
Centre every Saturday morning. Children who were found at the welfare centres
to be suffering from otorrhœa were referred to the Queen's Hospital for Children,
and thereafter the children attended the otorrhœa clinic, where treatment was carried
out by a nurse from the Shoreditch and Bethnal Green District Nursing Association.