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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43
"At the Annual Prize-giving, an Entertainment was given by
the whole School, and great merit was accorded to the speech and
to the dancing of the children."
(iii) Physically Defective School.— Your Committee provide a
Physically Defective School with accommodation for 80 pupils of
both sexes. The School is under the Orthopaedic charge of Mr. B.
Whitchurch Howell, F.R.C.S., Consulting Orthopaedic Surgeon
to your Committee, who holds a monthly Clinic assisted by two
part-time Masseuses. The remaining staff consists of a Head
Teacher, two Assistant Teachers, one Art Mistress, a Craft Master,
and the Ambulances are staffed by a Nurse and two Ambulance
drivers. In addition there is a Cook and a female Attendant.
The School is provided with a well-equipped Orthopaedic and
Massage room in which daily Massage Clinics are held.
I am indebted to Miss Scott, C.S.M.M.G., for the following summaries of defects for which children were admitted, and of the Clinic attendances during 1930:—
| Defects. | Boys. | Girls. |
|---|---|---|
| Anterior Poliomyelitis | 15 | 12 |
| Rickets | 4 | 1 |
| Congenital Dislocation of Hip | — | 1 |
| Achondroplasia | 1 | — |
| Tubercular Joints | 10 | 4 |
| Talipes | 11 | 11 |
| Erbs Paralysis | 1 | 1 |
| Torticollis | — | 1 |
| Genu Valgum and Varum | 3 | — |
| Visceroptosis | 1 | — |
| Congenital Defects | 2 | 5 |
| Spastic Paralysis | 7 | 6 |
| Scoliosis, Kyphosis, Lordosis | 7 | 5 |
| Arthritis, Polyarthritis | 1 | 4 |
| Fractures | 1 | — |
| Perthe's Disease | 1 | — |
| Spina Bifida | 1 | — |
| Osteomyelitis | 2 | — |
| Heart Disease | 22 | 8 |
| Pseudo Hypertrophic Paralysis | 1 | — |
| Number of cases seen by Surgeon— | ||
| Children under School age | 102 | |
| School children | 358 | |
| Total | 460 | |