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Psychological Clinic.
The Clinic was started in June, 1932, and is held in the outpatient
department of the Hospital for Invalid and Crippled
Children in Balaam Street, Plaistow.
There are two sessions weekly on Wednesdays and Saturdays
from 11 a.m. to 12 noon, at which the Medical Superintendent
of the Council's Mental Hospital, or one of his Assistant Medical
Officers, attends. At first, as was to be expected, there were not
many cases, but during the last year the numbers have increased
as the Clinic has become better known. Early psychotic and
psycho-neurotic cases are treated and also 4'difficult children."
The Clinic is in touch with the Child Guidance Clinic and Whipps
Cross Hospital, should their advice be required.
The site is an ideal one, and the Clinic will be of great service
in some cases before the admission to the Mental Hospital of
Voluntary Cases, now that it has been decided to start receiving
that type of patient.
The Clinic has also been valuable for keeping in touch with
discharged cases from the West Ham Mental Hospital.
A letter has been sent by the Medical Officer of Health to all
general practitioners, hospitals, voluntary societies, Assistant
School Medical Officers, and District Medical Officers, drawing
attention to the facilities for treatment of early cases of mental
aberration.
Laboratory Work.
Bacteriological Work is carried out at the various Municipal
Institutions.
At Plaistow Fever Hospital, in addition to the routine bacteriological
work of the Hospital, any medical practitioner may
have a bacteriological report upon any case of suspected
diphtheria, typhoid or cerebro-spinal fever.
Queen Mary's Hospital, Stratford, carry out bacteriological
examinations of samples of graded milk, ordinary milk, and
various other articles.
I he Tuberculosis Officer at the Tuberculosis Dispensary in
Balaam Street examines all specimens of sputum submitted to him
as suspected to contain the tubercle bacillus.
Samples of water, milk, and food stuffs are analysed by a
Public Analyst, who is a part-time Officer of the Council. He is
also the Analyst under the Fertilisers and Feeding Stuffs Act, 1926.
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