Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for East Ham]
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(e) External Eye Disease.
137 cases (126 in 1933) of external eys disease were treated at
the School Clinics.
(f) Vision.
During the year 1934, the Ophthalmic Clinic was held on five
sessions per fortnight.
524 cases were referred for treatment in respect of visual
defect during the year 1934 (of these 43 children with markedly
defective vision had not been seen by the Ophthalmic Surgeon)
and, including 56 cases awaiting treatment at the termination of
the year 1933, 537 cases have been treated in the past year. In
many cases a period of from three to four months intervenes
between the discovery of the defect and attendance for treatment.
Unfortunately it has not been possible to give an opportunity of
attending the Ophthalmic Clinic to all the children with lesser
degrees of visual defect. There were 120 cases discovered during
the year, and it is hoped that these children will be dealt with as
soon as the more urgent cases have been treated.
A Sight-saving Class at Monega Road School was opened by
the Education Committee in June, 1928, 16 children are in attendance
at this class, and they are all kept under observation by the
Ophthalmic Surgeon at certain intervals. (See also Ophthalmic
Surgeon's Report.)
(g) Ear Disease.
During the year 1934, 83 Aural Clinic sessions were held.
The total attendances at the Aural Clinic was 1,975, making an
average attendance, at each session, of 23 patients. Ionisation
treatment was carried out in 19 cases, 73 applications being made.
No difficulty is experienced in obtaining admittance to hospital
of patients suffering from acute mastoid disease, who require
immediate operation. Arrangements, however, did not formerly
permit of surgical treatment, without considerable delay, in those
cases of " chronic " mastoid disease. This has now been rectified.
The patients are admitted to Balaam Street Children's Hospital,
the operations are performed by Mr. Ronald Savege, F.R.C.S.,