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 1956
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for West Ham]
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The following figures relate to treatment given to school children during the year:-
| Number Treated | Total number of Treatments given | |
|---|---|---|
| Forest Street Clinic Sunlight ) Massage and Exercises) | 170 | 3,311 |
| Grange Road Clinic Sunlight ) Massage and Exercises) | 103 | 2,579 |
| Maybury Road Clinic Sunlight ) Massage and Exercises) | 33 | 357 |
| Elizabeth Fry Special School Massage and Exercises | 38 | 6,671 |
HEART DISEASE AND RHEUMATISM. Prior to this year all conditions of the heart and
circulation were grouped together, although separate statistics were available for the
individual conditions making up the total. Code No.10 on the revised school medical
record card which came Into use on 1st January, 1956, is now labelled "Heart". During the
year under review 24 cases were referred at periodic and special inspections for treatment
and 100 for observation. This represents a decrease of 19 cases for treatment and an
Increase of 34 for observation. These figures are much less than those recorded only a few
years ago.
The school medical officer, who may be the first doctor to see a case either at a
periodic or special examination, has a good deal of responsibility. It Is essential that an
accurate diagnosis should be made, not only to ensure appropriate treatment for those with
organic lesions, but also to avoid unnecessary restrictions for others. A clear distinction
should be made between functional disorders and those of organic defect and, in the case of
the latter group, between those of rheumatic and those of congenital origin, inasmuch as the
action to be taken is quite different in the various categories.
An analysis of cases seen by the paediatrician for the first time during the year shows
that only two children were found with a cardiac lesion. These were slight congenital lesions
of no significance and not requiring any modification In the school curriculum. Experienced
observers are unanimous in regarding acute rheumatism as a disappearing disease which has
changed its type. The number of children with cardiac involvement shows a steady decline,
which seems to indicate that the disease, in addition to being less wide-spread, is also
becoming less severe and the cardiac complications are becoming milder. As Dr.Hinden
mentions in his report "Even a few years ago rheumatic fever and its sequal, rheumatic heart
disease, was responsible for a substantial amount of Invalidism, The disease is now less
prevalent, ahd less severe: so that even when it occurs it is usual for the child to make a
complete recovery".
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