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 1944
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Walthamstow]
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6. FOLLOWING UP
The school nurses paid a total of 1958 home visits during 1944.
7. ARRANGEMENTS FOR TREATMENT.
(a) Nutrition - Treatment facilities as in 1939. The following
shows the quantities of tonics supplied during, 1944:-
Cod Liver Oil. Parrish's Food. Syrup Lacto Phosphate. Cod Liver Oil and Malt. Cod Liver oil Malt & Parrish.
7 lbs.. 36 lbs. 20 lbs. 217 lbs. 236 lbs.
(b) Uncleanliness - Treatment with Lethane was carried out
extensively with satisfactory results and advice and treatment is
now available at all clinics and welfares. Steel combs are
supplied at the various centres at cost price and on loan in cases
of necessity. 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.
(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. | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number under | excluded Art.20 B. | Number not Excluded | Re-inspections | |||
| Boys | Girls | Boys | Girls | Boys | Girls | |
| Rinpworm | 18 | 30 | 9 | 7 | 52 | 53 |
| Scabies | 93 | 84 | 27 | 30 | 562 | 488 |
| Rheumatism | 1 | 2 | 8 | 20 | 97 | 66 |
| Impetigo, Sores etc. | 60 | 29 | 109 | 67 | 765 | 357 |
| Skin | 56 | 42 | 91 | 83 | 254 | 283 |
| Verminous Head etc. | 14 | 86 | 22 | 129 | 56 | 460 |
| Sore Throat | 23 | 20 | 35 | 23 | 92 | 58 |
| Discharging Ears | 3 | 2 | 97 | 111 | 259 | 298 |
| Defective Vision | 1 | 1 | 114 | 135 | 291 | 362 |
| Mumps | 57 | 48 | 92 | 94 | 407 | 368 |
| External Eye Diseases | 3 | 3 | 72 | 68 | 91 | 93 |
| Tonsils & Adenoids | 2 | 1 | 2 | - | 2 | - |
| Various | 96 | 94 | 423 | 478 | 1912 | 1868 |
| Totals | 427 | 442 | 1101 | 1245 | 4840 | 4754 |
| Number of children seen at first inspection | 3215 | |||||
| Number of children sent by Attendance Officers | 72 | |||||
| Number of attendances made by children | 12809 | |||||
| Number of children sent by Head Teachers | 3143 | |||||
| Number of swabs taken | 131 | |||||
| Number of specimens of hair examined for Ringworm | 2 | |||||
| Number operated on for Tonsils and Adenoids | 27 | |||||
| Number of children X-rayed | 1 | |||||
| Number of children seen by Ophthalmic Surgeon-New cases | 290 | |||||
| - Frescribed for | 351 | |||||
| Total Inspection | 1995 | |||||
First attendances number 3215 against 4232 in 1943 and
re-attendances 9594 against 12494, the total attendances being
12809 against 16726.
8.