London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Walthamstow 1931

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Walthamstow]

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28
that 6.5 per cent. show some defect of hearing. A school can often
be examined in a day; but if it is large and there are many young
children, two or three days may be required by a clerk and a nurse
working together. The children who show a defect are sent to the
Ear Clinic for the cause to be discovered and the condition, if
possible, treated. From the experience which has been gained, it
appears that we should concentrate on the young children. In
them, the deafness is recent, and scar tissue has not had time to
form in the ear. The older children often show conditions similar
to those found in adults, and treatment is not efficacious to the
same degree as in the younger children.
''Dr. Crowden gave a demonstration in 1931 at the Walthamstow
Deaf School of the method of testing with the Audiometer. It is
an expensive instrument, but not excessively so. It does not seem
to wear out or to need repair frequently; the only renewals, so far,
having been the records, which cost 4s. 6d. each. In a few years,
its use will have spread all over this country.
"Mr. Rushton has charge of the organising of the Clinic. Each
patient for each visit has a written appointment stating the day
and time at which he is expected to attend.
"Miss Brophy assists in the treatment during the Clinic hours,
and also carries out treatment at Markhouse Road Clinic."
The success achieved by Dr. Friel in the Ionisation of cases of
ear discharge has been dramatically illustrated on several occasions.
Some cases following Scarlet Fever which had resisted all local
treatment in the Isolation Hospital, have been cured by two or
three Ionisation treatments.

Dental Defects.—The following Table shows a summary of Table IV (iii) (Board of Education) for the past 2 years:—

Year.Inspections .Requiring Treatment .Percent.Actually Treated.Fillings.Extractions.Gas Anaesthetics .Other Operations.
1931245471387456.573495653111694863669
1930195571081755.362865622108164186676

The full tables are given at the end of the Report.