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

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Walthamstow 1936

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Walthamstow]

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"The cases grouped under 'various' in the above table are made up as follows:—

Boys.Girls.Total.
Nystagmus due to nervous disease11
Nystagmus—no definite cause11
Injury224
Corneal Opacity11
Optic Atrophy11
Pigmentation and degeneration maculae11
Coloboma—iris and choroid22
Anterior synechia22
Cerebellar lesion1-1
Ciliary spasm11
Ophthalmia—post measles11
Albino11
Headaches—debility, anaemia, etc.181836
Total252853

"The following table shows the cases of squint dealt with during the year:—

Boys.Girls.Total.
Convergent squintR.5712
L.19928
Divergent squintR.11
L.11
Alternating squint81018
Occasional squintR.11
L.123

"There are two retinoscopy clinics held weekly at Lloyd Park
—Tuesdays and Thursdays—while Saturday morning is devoted
exclusively to re-inspections.
"An attempt was made during the year to prevent the long
wait necessitated by the installation of Atropine drops on the
morning of the retinoscopy, by giving Atropine ointment for the
mothers to use at home previous to the appointment. The experiment,
which has been tried before, was again not very successful
as few mothers are capable of satisfactorily using the ointment.
"The close co-operation between the Welfare Centres and the
eye clinic has enabled children under 5 years who are suffering
from any eye defect to receive treatment in the early stages. This
is especially beneficial in the case of squint, where early treatment
is half the "battle.