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
Heston and Isleworth 1938
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Heston and Isleworth]
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service was introduced during 1938. The work of these clinics is shown in the following tables:—
| 1937 | 1938. | |
|---|---|---|
| No. of sessions | 134 | 150 |
| Total attendances | 2,582 | 3,382 |
| Average attendance per session | 19.3 | 22.5 |
| Number of individual ante-natal cases | 794 | 976 |
| Number of individual post-natal cases | 31 | 28 |
| Number of individual gynaecological cases | 17 | 16 |
| Number of expectant mothers who attended shown as a percentage of the total notified live and still births | 54.6 | 68.6 |
Of the total ante-natal cases 43.7 per cent. were primipara. From West Middlesex County
Hospital 477 expectant mothers were referred to the clinics for ante-natal supervision. The
remaining cases were referred by midwives, medical practitioners and health visitors or attended
of their own accord.
The conditions encountered and the methods by which treatment was obtained are shown below:—
| Treated at Clinic. | Referred for treatment to | Total. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hospital. | Private Practitioner. | District Nurse. | |||
| Albuminuria | 67 | 23 | 12 | – | 102 |
| Toxaemia | – | 2 | – | – | 2 |
| Diabetes | – | 1 | 1 | – | 2 |
| Ovarian cyst | – | 2 | – | – | 2 |
| Breast abscess | – | 1 | 1 | – | 2 |
| Thyroid disease | – | 1 | – | – | 1 |
| General debility | – | 3 | 1 | – | 4 |
| Haemorrhoids | – | 1 | – | – | 1 |
| Vaginal discharge | – | 4 | – | 3 | 7 |
| Cough | – | 1 | 1 | – | 2 |
| Pyelitis | – | 1 | 1 | – | 2 |
| Swelling of leg | – | 1 | – | – | 1 |
| Pain in hands | – | 1 | – | – | 1 |
| Backache | – | 5 | – | – | 5 |
| Tuberculosis | – | 1 | – | – | 1 |
| Abdominal pair | – | 1 | – | – | 1 |
| Varicose veins | 10 | 1 | 2 | – | 13 |
| Skin disease | – | 1 | – | – | 1 |
| Placenta prævia | – | 1 | – | – | 1 |
| Inguinal hernia | – | 1 | – | – | 1 |
| Rectocele | – | 1 | – | – | 1 |
| Wassermann blood test | – | 2 | – | – | 2 |
| Dysuria | – | – | 1 | – | 1 |
| Sickness | – | – | 3 | – | 3 |
| Threatened abortion | – | 1 | 1 | – | 2 |
| Urea concentration test | – | 1 | – | – | 1 |
| Anaemia | 90 | – | – | – | 90 |
| Breech presentation | 24 | 7 | – | – | 31 |
| Referred for X-ray | – | 41 | – | – | 41 |
| 191 | 106 | 24 | 3 | 324 | |
The attendance of post-natal cases is disappointing. Practically all cases attended on
account of discomfort or some other symptom. Five cases were referred to their own doctor,
thirteen cases to hospital and two cases to the district nurse for treatment. Continuous propaganda
by midwives, health visitors, doctors, etc., is necessary to encourage mothers to attend for
routine post-natal examination.
The 16 gynaecological cases who attended were given advice as to their condition and as
to how and where treatment might be obtained.
Artificial Sunlight Clinic.
Treatment by artificial sunlight was started at Isle worth Health Centre on 17th October,
1938. The source of ultra-violet rays is a "Centrosol" quartz mercury-vapour lamp which is
17