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(1) ARTIFICIAL SUNLIGHT TREATMENT.
During the past few years arrangements have been in force
whereby all children so recommended receive Artificial Light
treatment at the Children's Hospital, Plaistow, on behalf of the
Education Committee. Dr. Eva Morton, who is responsible for
the administration of this treatment at the Hospital, sends me
the following report, showing the results of the treatment of
West Ham school children in this connection:—
The number of children of school age referred for treatment
in the Light Department of Balaam Street Hospital during 1933
was 117, in addition to a large number carried over from the
previous year who were still under treatment on January 1st.
Of children who completed their term of treatment during the
first half of the year, practically all those showing an attendance
of 30 visits or more usually over a period of 10 weeks—were
discharged as "greatly improved," in regard to the particular
condition for which thev were being treated. These conditions
were usually debility, malnutrition, anaemia, rheumatism, and
enlargement of the glands of the neck (tuberculous or otherwise);
but other less common complaints, including asthma, enuresis
and torticollis, also responded remarkably well, as did one case
each of emphysema, muscular dystrophv and acne. Fewer
children as compared with previous years were referred for bronchitis
and other catarrhal conditions, but most of such cases did
well. Nearly all the cases of debility, frequently following scarlet
fever, whooping cough or measles, improved very much in weight
and appetite. A disappointingly large number of mothers only
came once, or twice, to the Clinic, non-attendance in such cases
appearing usually to have been due to financial difficulties.
(8) Infectious Diseases.
The methods employed in the detection, and preventing the
spread, of Infectious diseases are as follows:—
(1) Exclusion from school of all children found to be suffering
from any disease or complaint which is considered to be infectious
or contagious.
(2) Exclusion from school of all children who have been in
contact with infectious disease.
(3) There is complete co-ordination between the Health
Services and the School Attendance Department. Daily returns
of children out of school on medical grounds are brought to notice
by the School Attendance Officers and cases of Infectious Disease
are visited by Sanitary Inspectors.
During the year the School Attendance Officers reported the
following cases:-
During the year the School Attendance Officers reported the
following cases):-
157