London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Heston and Isleworth 1914

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Heston and Isleworth]

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19
There is, unfortunately, also a feeling amongst parents that
as the teeth are only temporary teeth, which will in time come
out of themselves, no treatment is called for. There is no
doubt that if a septic condition of the skin were present it would be
treated, and the surface layers of the skin, like the teeth, are only
temporary, yet the temporary teeth are untreated and result in
enlarged glands and impaired digestion, besides which the process
of decay is contagious and will spread to the permanent teeth when
these erupt. It is regrettable to find in what a large number of
instances the first permanent molar is decayed within a few months
of its eruption, yet this tooth is a most valuable tooth to human
beings, as throughout life it plays the largest part in mastication.
I believe that the use of the tooth-brush is becoming more
common. The nightly cleansing of the teeth to remove the food
particles which have collected between the teeth during the day,
together with the use of proper articles of food-stuffs such as will
give the teeth some work to do, will, to a" great extent, prevent
the teeth from decaying.
Enlarged Glands.

These figures refer mostly to Cervical Glands, and are caused by one or other of the following:—Decayed teeth, enlarged tonsils, sores on the head or face, discharging ears, and verminous condition.

No. of Observations.No. with Enlarged Glands.
Boys entering27557
Boys intermediate299102
Boys leaving296120
Girls entering24343
Girls intermediate31781
Girls leaving32541
Total1755444

(There was one special case with Enlarged Glands.)