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 1956
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Walthamstow]
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17
"Since the beginning of the year 32 children from this
school have been treated at the Foot Clinic, 22 with warts and 10
with other conditions."
With regard to the treatment of children generally, a total
of 659 received 2,591 treatments, or 3.9 per child. 1,718 of the
treatments were for girls and 873 for boys, the ages concerned
being 2 treatments under five years, 2,576 between 5-15 years, and
13 over 15 years.
There were few children with orthopæsdic defects who had
attended or had been referred in error.
A disquieting feature was that at the end of the year no fewer
than 106 children from 25 departments were attending the clinic
suffering from verrucas; in six of the departments there were six
or more cases, and the possibility of a complete foot inspection in
each of these schools is being considered.
(b) Tonics. —The following shows the quantity of tonics issued during 1956:—
| Cod Liver Oil | Parrish's Food | Syrup Lacto Phosphate | Cod Liver Oil and Malt | Cod Liver Oil and Malt and Parrish's Food |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 lbs. | 105 lbs. | 3 ½ lbs. | 311 lbs. | 1,379 lbs. |
(c) Minor Ailments and Diseases of the Skin. —Treatment of minor ailments is carried out at the seven sessions of the school clinics, all of which are in charge of a medical officer. The number of cases of skin diseases is shown in the following table detailing the work done at the school clinics:—
| First Inspections | Re-inspections | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boys | Girls | Boys | Girls | |
| Ringworm—Scalp | — | — | — | — |
| Body | 1 | 2 | — | 6 |
| Scabies | 1 | — | 2 | 1 |
| Impetigo | 13 | 13 | 40 | 33 |
| Other Skin Defects | 45 | 51 | 88 | 109 |
| Orthopaedic conditions | 18 | 18 | 14 | 9 |
| Tonsils and Adenoids | 25 | 19 | 32 | 32 |
| Other E N.T. conditions | 22 | 30 | 40 | 37 |
| Defective Vision (including squint) | 45 | 78 | 9 | 9 |
| External Eye Diseases | 35 | 48 | 16 | 29 |
| Nervous and Psychological Disorders | 20 | 12 | 7 | 8 |
| Various | 606 | 463 | 835 | 793 |
| Totals | 831 | 734 | 1,083 | 1,066 |
(d) Uncleanliness.—Treatment with Suleo was carried out
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 Hackney Borough Council's Cleansing
Centre.