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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44
(i) Blind, School.—Your Committee provide a Blind School at
Wood Street with accommodation for 85 children of both sexes.
The following table shows the classification of children attending the school at the end of 1932, and has been supplied by the Head Teacher, Miss Balls:—
| "Blind within the Act." | "Partially Blind." | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walthamstow. | Other Authorities. | Walthamstow. | Other Authorities. | |
| Boys | 3 | 2 | 24 | 3 |
| Girls | 6 | 5 | 22 | 10 |
| Total | 9 | 7 | 46 | 13 |
The work done at the school is detailed in previous Annual
Reports and in the following interesting report of the Consultant
Ophthalmic Surgeon, Mr. H. J. Taggart. F. R.C.S.:—
"On December 31st, 1932, 32 boys and 43 girls were on the roll of the Myope School. The following is a classification of their visual defects:—
| Boys. | Girls. | |
|---|---|---|
| High Myopia (Simple) | 13 | 20 |
| High Myopia and Nystagmus | 2 | 2 |
| High Myopia and partial dislocation of lenses | 1 | 1 |
| High Myopia and Corneal Nebulae | — | 1 |
| High Myopia and Albino | — | 1 |
| High Hypermetropia and poor visual acuity | 3 | 1 |
| Corneal Opacities and Synechiae resulting from phlyctenular disease, ophthalmia neonatorum and interstitial keratitis | 2 | 5 |
| Congenital Cataracts | 1 | 4 |
| Nystagmus | 5 | 1 |
| Nystagmus and Albino | 1 | 1 |
| Nystagmus and old retinal haemorrhages | — | 1 |
| Nystagmus and congenital cataract | — | 1 |
| Buphthalmos | 1 | — |
| Congenital Coloboma of iris and choroid | 1 | 1 |
| Optic Atrophy | 1 | 1 |
| Double Macular disease | — | 1 |
| Anophthalmus (following operation for double glioma | 1 | - |
| Mirror writing | — | 1 |
"The progress of the children has been satisfactory. Miss
Balls and her staff have, as usual, been ever ready to co-operate