London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Wimbledon 1932

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Wimbledon]

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Fifty-eight children were cleansed at the Health Centre in
accordance with the arrangements made by the Education Committee.
This figure is considerably less than that for the previous
year. The total number of unclean children found by the nurse6
during their systematic inspections of the schools during 1932
amounted to 180. During 1931 the number was 205. This indicates
a marked improvement in the standard of cleanliness of
the children. As a rule, no school child is now cleansed at the
Health Centre unless the mother, on account of illness or other
bona fide reasons, is unable to cleanse the child herself.
In no case were legal proceedings necessary.
(b) Minor Ailments. The miner ailments found at the
routine and non-routine inspections are indicated in Table II.
Ringworm of the head and body, scabies, impetigo, other
skin diseases, minor injuries, diseases of the ears and eyes
(including otorrhœa and blepharitis) together with miscellaneous
conditions such as sores and chilblains were the common ailments
detected.
(c) Tonsils and Adenoids. At the routine medical inspection
there were thirty-four cases of enlarged tonsils, one case of
adenoids, and thirty-three cases of adenoids with enlarged tonsils
requiring treatment. Thus out of 1,713 children examined in
the routine way, sixty-eight or approximately 3.9% were found
to need operation. In addition, there were 130 children or 7.5%
with enlarged tonsils or with adenoids and enlarged tonsils
requiring to be kept under observation but not requiring treatment.
At the Health Centre seventy-three other cases were
found on special examination to require operation for this condition.
The percentage figure for those requiring treatment is
lower than that for the preceding year.
There are fewer cases recommended for the removal of tonsils
and adenoids now than formerly.
(d) Tuberculosis. One suspected case of pulmonary tuberculosis
requiring treatment was discovered at the routine medical
inspection.
Suspected cases are referred to the Tuberculosis Physician
between whom and the School Medical Staff a close co-operation
exists.
(e) Skin Disease. Of the children examined as routine cases
in the schools, 0.75% were found to be suffering from skin
diseases.
One was suffering from impetigo and eleven from other
minor skin ailments.
243 or 9.4% of the special eases examined at the Health
Centre were discovered to be suffering from diseases of the skin.
83