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
Walthamstow 1925
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Walthamstow]
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101
Physically Defective Centre, and the other at Lloyd Park. At the
latter clinic, all fresh cases are seen and all physically defective
children in the area are kept under observation. Two masseuses
attend at the Centre every afternoon.
There is a school bath on the premises. Ventilation, lighting
and heating is satisfactory.
Decided mental and physical improvement is noticeable in the
children.
Besides the ordinary elementary school curriculum subjects,
woodwork, drawing, rug making and raffia are done by the boys
and girls, whilst needlework is done by the girls. The children
show great aptitude for handicraft.
Rest is ordered when necessary. Recreation consists in indoor
games: draughts and cards; the outdoor games; football, cricket,
and skipping for the girls. Badminton was introduced during
the year.
The medical equipment is adequate, a massage couch, high plinth
massage stools, slings and other medical sundries.
The following table shows the defects in the year:—
the childre
n during
| Diagnosis. | Bovs. | Girls. |
|---|---|---|
| Pseudo Hypertrophic Paralysis | 3 | 2 |
| Infantile Paralysis | 8 | 17 |
| Hemiplegia | 3 | 3 |
| Diplegia | 1 | 1 |
| Paraplegia | — | 2 |
| Erbs Paralysis | 1 | 1 |
| Ataxia | 1 | — |
| Congenital Club-foot | 1 | 1 |
| Flat-foot | 1 | — |
| Polio-Encephalitis | 1 | — |
| Congenital Dislocation of Hip | — | 2 |
| Tubercular Spine | 4 | 3 |
| „ Hip | 8 | 1 |
| „ Knee | 1 | — |
| „ Ankle | 1 | — |
| „ Shoulder | — | 1 |
| Scoliosis | 1 | 3 |
| Perthe Hip | 1 | — |
| Injury Cervical Spine | 1 | — |
| Heart | 6 | 6 |
The Education Committee's ambulance, supplemented by local
motor agents, make three journeys daily to carry the children to and