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 1930
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Walthamstow]
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(g) Ear Disease and Hearing.— Minor defects under the above
heading are treated at the Minor Ailment Clinics, the numbers
treated being given in the Table relating to the work of these Clinics.
Refractory or special cases are referred to the weekly Consultant Aural Clinic held on Mondays from 2 —4.30 p.m. by Dr. A. R. Friel who has again been good enough to report on the valuable work done at this Clinic as follows:—
| Nature of Disease. | Total. | Cured | Lost Sight Of. | Still under Treatment. | Hospital Treatment. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acute Suppurative Otitis Media | 60 | 51 | 1 | 6 | 2 |
| Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media due to— | |||||
| (a) Tympanic Sepsis | 31 | 27 | 2 | 2 | — |
| (6) Tympanic Sepsis and Granulations | 10 | 7 | 1 | 2 | - |
| (c) Tympanic Sepsis and Polypus | 4 | 4 | — | — | — |
| (d) Tympanic Sepsis and Cholesteatoma | 1 | - | - | - | 1 |
| Tympanic conditions:— | - | - | - | - | - |
| (a) Rhinitis | 5 | 4 | — | 1 | - |
| (6) Tonsils (enlarged or inflamed) | 2 | 1 | — | — | 1 |
| (c) Pharyngitis | 2 | 2 | — | — | — |
| (d) External Otitis | 1 | 1 | — | — | - |
| Attic Disease | 6 | 2 | - | 2 | 2 |
| Mastoid Disease | 12 | 1 | - | 2 | 9 |
| External Otitis Media | 20 | 19 | - | 1 | - |
| Not diagnosed | 2 | - | — | - | 2 |
| Totals | 156 | 119 | 4 | 16 | 17 |
"The 4 cases 'lost sight of' include 2 who have left School
and 2 who have left the district.
"The above Table includes all the cases of active suppurative
disease treated at the sessions of the Aural Clinic at Lloyd Park.
The majority of the patients were school children, but there were
also babies from the Infant Welfare Centre and 'toddlers' from the
Children's Clinic at Mark house Road.
"The policy of the Health Department is to supervise the health
of the children from birth till they leave school. This is particularly
wise in the case of disease of the ears.
"Acute inflammation in the ear occurs frequently before the
patient has entered school. If treatment is given before the disease
becomes chronic nearly every case clears up quickly. It means that
the child enters school free of discharge from the ear and with little
or no impairment of hearing. The Clinic for Infants and Toddlers
at Mark house Road and the Aural Clinic at Lloyd Park work
together, and Dr. Sheppard sends any cases requiring special
treatment to the Aural Clinic.