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

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

Boys.Girls.Total.
Nystagmus due to nervous disease—11
Nystagmus—no definite cause1—1
Injury224
Corneal Opacity—11
Optic Atrophy—11
Pigmentation and degeneration maculae—11
Coloboma—iris and choroid—22
Anterior synechia—22
Cerebellar lesion1-1
Ciliary spasm1—1
Ophthalmia—post measles1—1
Albino1—1
Headaches—debility, anaemia, etc.181836
Total252853

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

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

Boys.Girls.Total.
Convergent squintR.5712
L.19928
Divergent squintR.1—1
L.—11
Alternating squint81018
Occasional squintR.—11
L.123

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"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.