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
Wimbledon 1937
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Wimbledon]
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The following table shows the nature of the defects from which the children were suffering.
| Infantile Paralysis | 2 |
| Trauma | 12 |
| Deformities due to previous Rickets | 11 |
| Spinal Curvature | 7 |
| Tuberculous joints (arrested) | 1 |
| Tenosynovitis | 2 |
| Flat foot, knock-knee, pes cavus, etc. | 42 |
| Postural defects | 59 |
| Internal derangement of knee joint | 5 |
| Torticollis | 2 |
| Other congenital defects | 5 |
| Other defects | 10 |
| Total | 158 |
An indication of the treatment carried out through this Clinic is given hereunder :—
| Number of children referred for in-patient treatment at Pyrford | 3 |
| Number of children referred to St. Thomas's Hospital for out-patient treatment | 7 |
| Number of children referred to St. Thomas's Hospital for in-patient treatment | 6 |
| Number of children referred to St. Thomas's Hospital for X-ray examination | |
| Number of children transferred to P.D. Schools | 1 |
| Number of children referred for alterations to surgical boots, etc. | 13 |
| Number of children referred for exercises and massage at the Health Centre | 36 |
| Total | 68 |
The Orthopaedic Nurse attended seventy-seven sessions at
the Health Centre in order to carry out the remedial exercises
and massage. Thirty-six children were referred by
the Orthopædic Surgeon for such treatment. Five hundred
and fifty-six attendances were made. The average number
of children attending at each session for exercise and
massage was 7.2.