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 1940
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Walthamstow]
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The Education Committee decided to re-open the school at Hale
End Road in August and the staff was recalled, one teacher only
remaining at Weymouth.
As other schools are occupying the premises the numbers are
necessarily small. At the end of the year there were in
attendance, 9 orthopaedic, 3 cardiac and 8 debilitated.
(iv) Orthopaedic Scheme. The arrangements whereby the
Superintendent Health Visitor and the Welfare Masseuse attended
each clinic was continued. The close liaison has proved very
valuable. A total of 12 consultant sessions were held in 1940.
The scheme is under the clinical charge of Mr. B. Whitchurch
Howell, F.R.C.S., Consulting Orthopaedic Surgeon. The following
tables show the work done at the clinic:-
ORTHOPAEDIC SCHEME
| 5-16 yrs . | BOYS Under 5 yrs | Over 16 yrs | 5-16 yrs. | GIRLS | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 5 yrs | Over 16 yrs | |||||
| Anterior Poliomyelitis | 4 | 1 | 1 | 5 | - | 9 |
| Scoliosis, Kyphosis Lordosis | 1 | - | - | 3 | - | - |
| Surgical Tuberculosis Rickets:- | 1 | - | - | 1 | - | - |
| (a ) Genu Varum | - | 13 | - | 1 | 9 | - |
| (b) Genu Valgum | 7 | 9 | - | 2 | 9 | - |
| Pes Plano Valgus | 63 | 9 | 1 | 26 | 5 | - |
| Spastic Paralysis | 5 | 1 | - | 2 | 2 | - |
| Arthritis | - | - | 1 | 1 | - | 1 |
| Talipes:- | ||||||
| (a) Equino Varus | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | - |
| (b) Equino Valgus | - | - | - | 2 | 4 | - |
| (c) Pes Cavus | - | - | - | 2 | - | - |
| (d) Calcaneo Valgus | - | 1 | - | - | 1 | - |
| Torticollis | 1 | 1 | - | 4 | 3 | - |
| Ataxia... | 1 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Osteomyelitis | 1 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Amputation of leg | - | - | - | 1 | - | - |
| Congenital dislocation of Hip | - | 1 | - | 4 | 1 | - |
| Hallux Valgus | 1 | - | - | 2 | - | - |
| Hammer Toe | - | - | - | 2 | - | - |
| Perthe's Disease | - | - | - | 1 | - | - |
| Congenital defects | 1 | - | - | 2 | 3 | - |
| Miscellaneous | 5 | - | - | 2 | 2 | — |
| Totals | 97 | 37 | 4 | 64 | 43 | 10 |
Number of cases seen by burgeon-
From Physically Defective School 17
From other schools 91
Over school age 32
Under school age 80
Total 220
New cases seen by Surgeon:-
School age 83
Under school age 49
Total 132
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