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 1931
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Walthamstow]
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24
Skin Disease.—The number of cases of skin disease treated is
shown in the Table detailing the work done at the School Clinics.
In addition, 14 cases of Ringworm of the scalp were referred to the
London Hospital for X-Ray treatment, at a cost of £2 12s. 6d. per
case.
External Eye Disease.—Treatment for these cases is given at
the School Clinics. (See Table IV, Group 1, at the end of the
Report.)
Vision.—The medical treatment facilities provided by your
Authority for defects of vision, etc., consist of (1) a Blind School
staffed on the medical side by your part-time Consulting Ophthalmic
Surgeon, Mr. H. J. Taggart, F.R.C.S.; and (2) 3 weekly Refraction
Clinics under the care of Dr. Sheppard, who refers special or difficult
cases to Mr. Taggart's Consultant Clinics, and which she attends,
so maintaining a close liaison. Mr. Taggart's report will be found
under Section 17 of the Report.
All defects of vision are referred to the Eye Clinics by other
Medical Officers and are, if necessary, followed up for the remainder
of the child's school life. Dr. Sheppard has kindly contributed
the following account of the work done during 1931 :—
"The work of the Eye Clinic has been carried out on 3 half-days weekly; the total number of children seen being 770, making 2,436 attendances. 393 new children attended, showing defects as specified below:—
| Disease. | Under 7 years. | 7—11 years. | Over 11 years. | Totals. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boys. | Girls. | Boys. | Girls. | Boys. | Girls. | Boys. | Girls. | |
| Hypermetropia | 21 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 12 | 52 | 41 |
| Hypermetropic | ||||||||
| Astigmatism | 14 | 12 | 26 | 22 | 12 | 8 | 52 | 42 |
| Myopic Astigmatism | 7 | 4 | 13 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 22 | 13 |
| Myopia | 3 | 2 | 21 | 18 | 25 | 28 | 49 | 48 |
| Mixed Astigmatism | 2 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 14 | 12 |
| Glasses not required | 5 | 4 | 14 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 27 | 20 |
| Odd Eyes | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | — |
| Totals | 52 | 38 | 98 | 76 | 67 | 62 | 217 | 176 |
"In addition to the 393 new refractions, 185 old cases were also
done, making a total of 476 refractions.