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 1937
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Walthamstow]
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"The full classified list is as follows:—
| Boys. | Girls | |
|---|---|---|
| High Myopia | 26 | 13 |
| Hyper Astigmatism | 1 | 1 |
| Congenital Cataract | 4 | 2 |
| Bilateral Optic Atrophy | — | 1 |
| Photophobia | — | 1 |
| Ophthalmia (post measles) | — | 1 |
| Deep infiltration of Cornea | 1 | — |
| Nystagmus | 2 | 2 |
| Albino | — | 2 |
| Left eye enucleated | — | 1 |
| Macular Dystrophy | 1 | — |
| Choroiditis | 1 | — |
| Corneal Opacity | 1 | 1 |
| Glioma (Left eye enucleated) | — | 1 |
| R. leucoma; L. enucleated | 1 | — |
| Nystagmus (partial albinoid) | — | 1 |
| Choroidal pigmentation (mirror writing) | 1 | — |
| Total | 39 | 27 |
"Miss Balls and her assistants have shown their usual admirable
care of the children throughout the year, with gratifying results."
The Head Teacher, Miss M. L. Balls, has kindly sent the
following report:—
"The school accommodates 85 children, but during the past
year the number on roll has never exceeded 66.
"By a careful arrangement of the curriculum, every effort is
made to educate children of varying degrees of blindness in such a
manner that each child may develop its capacity for learning and
doing, to the fullest extent, in spite of the handicap of defective
sight.
"The children form two groups:— (1) Those who are partially
blind; (2) those who are 'Blind within the meaning of the Act.'
"On the 31st December, 1937, the first group numbered 56
and the second group numbered 10.
"The method employed in the instruction of the partially
blind children in the school may be described as the 'sight saving
method.' Great care is taken that these children subject their eyes
to no strain when they are performing their school tasks.