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 1943
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Walthamstow]
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(c) Minor Ailments and Diseases of the Skin. Treatment facilities
as for 1938.
The work done at the school clinics is shown on the table given below
| Conditions | FIRST INSPECTIONS | Re inspections | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number excluded under Art. 20 B | Number not Excluded | |||||
| Boys | Girls | Boys | Girls | Boys | Girls | |
| Ringworm | 6 | 8 | — | 1 | 24 | 32 |
| Scabies | 53 | 75 | 1 | 11 | 337 | 428 |
| Rheumatism | 3 | 3 | 40 | 54 | 98 | 140 |
| Impetigo, Sores etc. | 146 | 73 | 152 | 103 | 1568 | 765 |
| Skin | 73 | 71 | 125 | 197 | 469 | 515 |
| Verminous Head etc. | 20 | 95 | 31 | 221 | 169 | 67? |
| Sore Throat | 62 | 51 | 76 | 75 | 209 | 140 |
| Discharging Ears | — | 2 | 228 | 181 | 484 | 452 |
| Defective Vision | — | — | 71 | 58 | — | — |
| Mumps | 19 | 13 | — | — | 12 | IS |
| External Eye Diseases | 68 | 90 | 92 | 88 | 614 | 444 |
| Tonsils and Adenoids | — | — | 45 | 38 | — | — |
| Various | 167 | 179 | 485 | 582 | 2355 | 2549 |
| Totals | 617 | 660 | 1346 | 1609 | 6339 | 6155 |
| Number of children seen at first inspection | 4232 | |||||
| Number of children sent by Attendance Officers | 125 | |||||
| Number of attendances made by children | 16726 | |||||
| Number of children sent by Head Teachers | 430b | |||||
| Number of swabs taken | 219 | |||||
| Number of specimens of hair examined for Ringworm | 1 | |||||
| Number operated on for Tonsils and Adenoids | 59 | |||||
| Number of children seen by Ophthalmic Surgeon - New cases | 268 | |||||
| Prescribed for | 355 | |||||
| Total inspections | 2152 | |||||
6. FOLLOWING UP.
The school nurses paid a total of 2983 home visits during 1943.
t
7. ARRANGEMENTS FOR TREATMENT.
(a) Nutrition - Treatment facilities as in 1939. The following
shows the quantities of tonios supplied during 1943:-
Cod Liver
Oil.
Parrish's
Food
Syrup Lacto
Phosphate
Cod Liver Oil
and Malt.
Cod Liver Oil &
Malt & Parrish'S
19½ lbs
163 lbs
32 lbs
345 lbs
337 lbs
(b) Uncleanliness - Infestation by Head Lice. During the year the
new Lethane treatment was tried out extensively with very successful
results. Advice and treatment is now available at all clinics and
welfare centres. The various homes have been classified with regard
to cleanliness as suggested in Circulars issued by the Ministry of
Health and special supervision given where necessary.
Great difficulty occurs in some homes on account of mothers
being at work and in consequence the work of the Health Visitors
and School Nurses has increased considerably.
The work done at the school clinics is shown on the table
given below
Conditions
FIRST INSPECTIONS
Re
inspections
Number excluded
under Art. 20 B
Number not
Excluded
Boys
Girls
Boys
Girls
Boys
Girls
Ringworm
6
8
—
1
24
32
Scabies
53
75
1
11
337
428
Rheumatism
3
3
40
54
98
140
Impetigo, Sores etc.
146
73
152
103
1568
765
Skin
73
71
125
197
469
515
Verminous Head etc.
20
95
31
221
169
67?
Sore Throat
62
51
76
75
209
140
Discharging Ears
—
2
228
181
484
452
Defective Vision
—
—
71
58
—
—
Mumps
19
13
—
—
12
IS
External Eye Diseases
68
90
92
88
614
444
Tonsils and Adenoids
—
—
45
38
—
—
Various
167
179
485
582
2355
2549
Totals
617
660
1346
1609
6339
6155
Number of children seen at first inspection
4232
Number of children sent by Attendance Officers
125
Number of attendances made by children
16726
Number of children sent by Head Teachers
430b
Number of swabs taken
219
Number of specimens of hair examined for Ringworm
Number operated on for Tonsils and Adenoids
59
Number of children seen by Ophthalmic Surgeon - New cases
268
Prescribed for
355
Total inspections
2152
First attendances number 4232 against 3748 in 1942 and
re-attendances 12494 against 9547, the total attendances being
16726 against 13295.
8.