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 1951
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Walthamstow]
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13
6. FOLLOW-UP
The School Nurses paid a total of 2,199 home visits during
1951.
7. ARRANGEMENTS FOR TREATMENT
(a) Malnutrition.—The following shows the quantities of
tonics issued during 1951 :—
Cod Cod Liver Oil
Cod Liver Parrish's Syrup Lacto Liver Oil and Malt and
Oil. Food. Phosphate and Malt. Parrish's Food. Emulsion.
18 lbs. 342½ lbs. 24 lbs. 1,552 lbs. 1,498 lbs. 104 lbs.
(b) Uncleanliness.—Treatment with lethane was carried out
extensively with satisfactory results and advice and treatment is
available at all clinics and welfares. Steel combs are supplied
at the various centres at cost price, and on loan in cases of necessity.
Special treatment is available at the Borough Council's Cleansing
Centre.
(c) Minor Ailments and Diseases of the Skin.—Treatment
of minor ailments is carried out at the eight sessions of the school
clinics, all of which are in the charge of a medical officer.
The
number of cases of skin disease treated is shown in the following table detailing the work done at the school clinics :—
| First Inspections | Re-inspections | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boys | Girls | Boys | Girls | |
| Ringworm—Scalp | - | - | - | 1 |
| Body | 5 | 8 | 9 | 13 |
| Scabies | 2 | 5 | - | 1 |
| Impetigo | 10 | 5 | 14 | 6 |
| Other Skin Defects | 83 | 76 | 237 | 319 |
| Verminous Head | 27 | 117 | 81 | 559 |
| Discharging Ears and Deafness | 49 | 51 | 285 | 267 |
| Tonsils and Adenoids | 28 | 35 | 42 | 30 |
| Defective Vision (including squint) | 71 | 82 | 11 | 14 |
| External Eye Disease | 91 | 105 | 123 | 138 |
| Sores | 10 | 14 | 27 | 25 |
| Various | 1,100 | 1,132 | 2,450 | 2,242 |
| Totals | 1,476 | 1,630 | 3,279 | 3,615 |
First attendances number 3,106 against 3,356 in 1950, and
re-attendances 6,894 against 8,159, the total attendances being
10,000 against 11,515.
The operation of the National Health Service Act, 1946, has
naturally tended to lessen attendances at minor ailment clinics, since
children can now be seen by the family doctor without fee.