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 1935

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Walthamstow]

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18
staffed on the medical side by a part-time consultant
Ophthalmic Surgeon, and Dr. Sheppard; and (2) three weekly
refraction clinics under the care of Dr. Sheppard, who refers
special or difficult cases to the Consultant Clinics with which
she maintains close liaison.
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 1935:—
"The work of the Eye Clinic during 1935 was of the
ordinary routine character. The number of children attending
for the first time was slightly in excess of that in 1934.

Table: "The following table shows the defects discovered in those children:—

"The following table shows the defects discovered in those children:—

Defects.Boys.Girls.Totals.
Under 7 yrs.7—11 yrs.Over 11 yrs.Under 7 yrs.7—11 yrs.Over 11 yrs.Boys.Girls.
Hypermetropia6910711102528
Myopia21347110476258
Hypermetropic Astigmatism633174155646
Myopic Astigmatism_39_561211
Mixed Astigmatism_8815121618
Glasses not required51110221242647
Totals19771011579114197208

Table: "The conditions found in the 26 boys and 47 girls who were submitted to retinoscopy, but for whom glasses were not ordered, were as follows:—

"The conditions found in the 26 boys and 47 girls who were submitted to retinoscopy, but for whom glasses were not ordered, were as follows:—

Defects.Boys.Girls.
Headaches due to various causes, anaemia, debility
etc.734
Conjunctivitis31
Ciliary spasm—1
Occasional Squint2—
Corneal Nebulas43
Carried forward1639