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 1936
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Walthamstow]
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93
(f) Invalid Children's Aid Association.—Miss Lewis, Secretary
of the local Branch of the Invalid Children's Aid Association,
kindly reports that the following cases under five years of age were
dealt with by her Association:—
Referred by:—
Medical men, Hospitals and Dispensaries 44
Orthopaedic Clinics 97
Others 4
145
Suffering from:—
Anaemia and Debility 8
Marasmus and Malnutrition 6
Pneumonia, Bronchitis, Asthma, etc. 14
Bone Disease (non-T.B.) 69
Congenital Deformities 23
Paralysis 5
Hernia 2
Diseases of:—
Glands (non-T.B.) 2
Nervous Conditions 3
Ear 2
Rheumatism 3
Various 8
145
Help Given to Old and New Cases, 1936.
Sent to Special Hospitals and Convalescent Homes *32
Provided with Surgical Boots and Appliances 46
Referred for Visiting and Advice 69
147
*Includes 7 admissions to Brookfield Hospital.
Miss Lewis in forwarding her report remarked upon the increased
proportion of children under 5 years of age referred for Convalescent
Home treatment, and the increased difficulty in placing them,
especially in the Autumn of 1936.
Miss Lewis considers that children under 5 years of age do not
receive the same degree of benefit as the older children sent for
convalescence. The risk of acquiring a series of infectious diseases
is not the least of the disadvantages of sending young children away.