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

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Walthamstow 1943

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Walthamstow]

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The attendances for this special treatment have been
remarkably good, practically all the cases completing the full
course of about twelve applications. With improvement in
technique and practice it is possible to treat any average child
of 5 years old upwards, and some even younger. In suitable cases
it has many advantages over tonsillectomy. There is no risk or
undue after effect: no hospitalisation. The child retains the
valuable physiological functions of the tonsil tissues. The
tendency to post nasal and aural infections and intractable post
nasal catarrh so common after tonsillectomy is entirely eliminated.
"Tonsillectomy in certain pathological conditions and,
surgically, correctly performed (and we stress this point) can have
the most beneficial results, but far too often these presumed
conditions are only a pious ideal. We must emphasize here that the
successful treatment of tonsillar disease is bound up with the
treatment of Co-existent nasal disease in the form of Sinusitis,
Rhinitis etc,. It will be quite surprising to anybody who has not
hitherto given the necessary attention to these correlated
conditions to find how frequently they co-exist.
"Sinusitis is far more frequently present in children than is
supposed and is, we hold,, the exciting cause in a very large
proportion of cases of tonsillar disease. The difficulties of
diagnosis of this affection in children are now largely removed by
the 'Displacement' method of proetz, when the smallest trace of
muco-pus or pus,'the true indication of sinus disease, can be
readily detected. We use this method regularly at the clinic and
nearly every case for tonsil treatment is first examined as to a
possible sinus affection, by Proetz 'Displacement'. It is equally
an ideal form of treatment for such cases.
"The French Diastolisation treatment for Rhinitis, nasal
catarrh, nasal 'obstruction' and nasal respiratory insufficiency
has been carried out regularly during the year at two sessions a
week at the treatment clinic.
"As eye, ear, nose and throat affections form the main bulk
of the defects usually found amongst school and pre-school children,
it is very important that these defects should receive early
recognition and treatment with particular attention to the preschool
child. The increased extension of careful medical inspection
to the latter class is showing excellent results in preventing what"mi
might be regarded as minor, passing 'ailments', and let go unheeded,
from slowly progressing into- chronic, intractable, and frequently
permanent disabilities,
"This important aspect of child medical inspection and
arrangement for clinical treatment for children of any age is a
progressive step in the right direction.
"The general health, physiqae, nutrition of the children
attending the clinic during the year was"well up to pre-war standards.
The usual tonics, cod liver oil and malt, lactephosphates, Parrish's
food and supplementary nourishment advised in certain cases have
been available, and materially assisted the prescribed treatments."

(g) Dental Defects - Treatment of Secondary and Technical Pupils-The work done for the Essex County Council is shown below and is not included in Table IV at the end of the report.

Inspections

10 yrs.11 yrs.12 yrs.13 yrs.14 yrs.15 yrs.16 yrs.17 yrs.18 yrsNo. offered Treatment.% Requiring Treatment
814114813713295594339153.7

11.