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 1932

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Walthamstow]

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Table: 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:—

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.CuredLost Sight of.Still under Treatment.Hospital Treatment.
Acute Suppurative Otitis Media675566-
Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media due to—
(a) Tympanic Sepsis4232361
(b) Tympanic Sepsis and Granulations1311-2-
(c) Tympanic Sepsis and Polypi65——1
Tympanic Sepsis and Rhinitis41-3-
Attic Disease84-o2
Mastoid Disease183249
External Otitis Media151311—
Not diagnosed1-1—_
Totals174124132413

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'"The number "lost sight of" is made up as follows:-Left
district, 3; attending own doctor, 2: attending hospital. 2;
refused treatment, 3; no trace, 3.
"The year 1932, as far as the Aural Clinic goes, is noteworthy for
the purchase by the Education Committee of an up-to-date instrument
(an Audiometer), for testing hearing. This is a gramophone
with 24 single headphones instead of a horn. One of the 'phones
is placed over one ear of a child and 24 children can be tested at
once. It is a great time saver. The record which is played is a series
of numbers gradually decreasing in strength until they can scarcely be
heard. The numbers which are not heard give the measure of the
defect in hearing. The record is standard, so the testing is on a
uniform system and can be repeated, giving the same sounds at any
time. The audiometer is not only useful in detecting defects in
hearing but also in judging whether treatment has restored, or
improved, the hearing power. In short, the Audiometer converts
what may be only guesswork, or an 'impression' into accurate
measurement.
“In addition, the Clinic has been provided with a vibrator for
use with the diastolisation tubes for treating obstruction in the
Eustachian tubes—one of the chief causes of progressive deafness.