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
West Ham 1948
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for West Ham]
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Statistics relating to the work of the clinic follow:
| Rheumatic | Nutritional | General Consultative | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number cases seen | 54 | 13 | 182 |
| Total attendances | 101 | 21 | 347 |
| Number admitted to hospital | 18 | 3 | 14 |
| Number recommended for Open Air School or other special educational treatment | 5 | 2 | 19 |
| Number referred to other special clinics | 1 | 30 | |
| Number discharged during year | 27 | 5 | 111 |
| Number under observation at end of year | 29 | 9 | 73 |
TUBERCULOSIS IN CHILDHOOD. Manifest tuberculosis is less common in children than in adults. It usually takes a different form and if recognised early enough, is more amenable to treatment. Close co-operation is maintained between the School Health Service and the Chest Clinic in these cases,, Dr„ Galpin has submitted the following summary of the work done at the Clinic in relation to school children:
| Number of school children referred by School Medical Officer | 43 | ||
| Number of school children referred by General Medical Practitioners | 39 | ||
| Number of school children examined as contacts | 105 | ||
| Number of school children found to be suffering from tuberculosis | 16 | ||
| The classification and disposal of the definite cases is set out below:- | |||
| Pulmonary: | |||
| Pleurisy | 1 | (7 were admitted to institutions) | |
| Lung primary | 9 | ||
| 10 | |||
| Non-Pulmonary: | |||
| Ankle | 1 | (3 were admitted to institutions) . | |
| Shoulder | 1 | ||
| Spine | 1 | ||
| Neck Gland | 3 | ||
| 6 | |||
SCABIES. The decline in the number of cases of this disease continued during the
year, but the fall was less marked than in the preceding year. Pre-war figures have now
been reached, and it will be interesting to observe whether the future produces any more
improvement or whether there is a rock-bottom reservoir of infection which still prevails
under normal conditions. It remains to be seen whether methods of treatment evolved to
meet the emergency war-time situation will be able to improve on pre-war figures.
A comparative table of the rise and fall of scabies is set out below:-
| Year | Number of school children treated |
|---|---|
| 1937 | 254 |
| 1938 | 359 |
| 1939 | 305 |
| 1942 | 2,750 |
| 1943 | |
| 1944 | 1,215 |
| 1945 | |
| 1946 | 766 |
| 1947 | 372 |
| 1948 | 303 |