London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Woolwich 1938
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Woolwich]
This page requires JavaScript
TABLE No. 81.
| Brewer Street. | Eltham. | Plumstead. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Impetigo | 30 | 50 | 51 |
| Ear Discharge | 7 | 16 | 28 |
| Eyes | 26 | 50 | 47 |
| Miscellaneous | 9 | 16 | 27 |
| 72 | 132 | 153 |
The corresponding totals for 1937 were respectively 65, 122 and 145.
Dental Treatment.—Mothers and children requiring dental treatment are
referred from the Welfare Centres to the School Clinics at Brewer Street, Woolwich,
at Westhorne Avenue, Eltham, and at Plumstead High Street. Weekly sessions
are held at all three centres.
The following Table No. 82 shows the number of cases attending and the total
attendances during the year. The number of sessions was 189, including anaesthetic
days.
TABLE No. 82.
| Expectant Mothers. | Nursing Mothers. | Children | under 5. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Attendances. | No. | Attendances. | No. | Attendances. | |
| Woolwich.. | 129 | 362 | 21 | 88 | 23 | 24 |
| Plumstead | 121 | 226 | 20 | 51 | 298 | 628 |
| Eltham | — | — | — | — | 177 | 421 |
| 250 | 588 | 41 | 139 | 498 | 1,073 | |
| All Centres, 1937 | 167 | 374 | 39 | 118 | 395 | 768 |
The figures of the toddler clinics in this connection are full of interest. In 1938
47 children aged 2 had defective teeth, 177 aged 3, and 250 aged 4. These figures
correspond at 2 years to 5.7 per cent., at 3 years to 30.2 per cent., and at 4 years
to 48.3 per cent., of the children examined; 137 children or 7.1 per cent. had already
had teeth extracted or filled.
Dentures are provided free, at part cost, or at cost price, according to the
ability to pay, and payment is spread over many weeks. In consequence, the
income received during the year includes money received in respect of dentures