Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for West Ham]
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No children were cleansed under Section 122 of the Children
Act, but 109 heads were cleansed at the School Clinics by Nurses.
(c) MINOR AILMENTS AND DISEASES OF THE SKIN.
There are many minor ailments and skin diseases amongst
school children, for which parents will not seek medical aid through
a private Practitioner or Hospital. For such cases the School
Clinics are available. Head Teachers are empowered to send all
children to the School Clinics who come under this category.
Certain defects found at Routine or Special examinations are
also referred to the Clinics for treatment, or for further examintion
or observation.
The following figures give an indication of the attendances at the Medical Clinics, of which there are four in the Borough, one of them (Stratford Clinic) being served by two Doctors:—
Stratford Clinic (a) | 13589 |
Stratford Clinic (b) | 6898 |
Balaam Street Clinic | 11905 |
Swanscombe St. Clinic | 16983 |
Rosetta Road Clinic | 17171 |
Total | 66546 |
With regard to Ringworm of the Scalp arrangements have
been made by this Authority with the London Hospital for X-ray
treatment of this condition. All such cases before being referred
for treatment are first seen by an Assistant School Medical Officer,
who also re-inspects the cases before they are re-admitted to school.
During the year there were six cases of Ringworm of the Scalp
treated at the London Hospital.
(d) VISUAL DEFECTS AND EXTERNAL EYE DISEASES.
Cases of Visual defects are examined by the Committee's
Oculist. The Oculist devotes ten Sessions per week to
these refractions, which are re-inspected by the respective
Assistant School Medical Officers within the following three
months. In necessitous cases assistance is rendered in the purchase
of the glasses.
Following is a resume of the results of the examinations by the School Oculist:—
Elementary Schools | Higher Education | Special Schools | |
---|---|---|---|
Cases referred to Oculist | 4198 | 483 | 56 |
Number attended | 3419 | 440 | 46 |
Percentage attendance | 81.4 | 91.1 | 82.1 |
Glasses ordered | 2635 | 403 | 38 |