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 1945
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Walthamstow]
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9
6. FOLLOWING UP.
The school nurses paid a total of 2,164 home visits during 1945.
7. ARRANGEMENTS FOR TREATMENT.
(a) Nutrition.—The following shows the quantities of tonics supplied during 1945:—
| Cod Liver Oil. | Parrish's Food. | Syrup Lacto Phosphate. | Cod Liver Oil and Malt. | Cod Liver Oil & Malt & Parrish's Food. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14½ lbs. | 152 lbs. | 6½ lbs. | 518 lbs. | 765 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 arc 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. | Re-inspections. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number Excluded | Number not Excluded. | |||||
| Boys. | Girls. | Boys. | Girls. | Boys. | Girls. | |
| Ringworm | 18 | 10 | 6 | 20 | 32 | 80 |
| Scabies | 128 | 149 | 78 | 119 | 336 | 329 |
| Rheumatism | 2 | 1 | 22 | 48 | 14 | 26 |
| Impetigo, Sores, etc. | 46 | 28 | 122 | 101 | 399 | 310 |
| Skin | 22 | 9 | 83 | 81 | 148 | 120 |
| Verminous Head, etc. | 25 | 98 | 52 | 200 | 105 | 574 |
| Sore Throat | 19 | 17 | 17 | 12 | 21 | 12 |
| Discharging Ears | 9 | 7 | 105 | 81 | 222 | 147 |
| Defective Vision | _ | 3 | 123 | 161 | 389 | 418 |
| Mumps | 3 | 3 | — | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| External Eye Diseases | 19 | 11 | 61 | 62 | 200 | 271 |
| Tonsils & Adenoids | 3 | 6 | 165 | 180 | 169 | 225 |
| Various | 89 | 83 | 795 | 798 | 2,029 | 1,935 |
| Totals | 383 | 425 | 1,629 | 1,864 | 4,065 | 4,449 |