[Report 1945] / Medical Officer of Health, Shipley U.D.C.

  • Shipley (England). Urban District Council.
Date:
1945
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1945] / Medical Officer of Health, Shipley U.D.C. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Artificial Sunlight. 138 infants and young children and 3 mothers attended the ultra-violet light clinic for various reasons, including 56 cases of rickets (mainly bow legs, knock knees, etc.), 18 of chest disorders, and 46 of vague conditions, such as, debility, failure to gain weight. 58 (including 25 of rickets) were regarded as cured or much improved when discharged from treatment. 12 cases remained under treatment at the end of the year. Minor Ailments. 165 infants and 102 pre-school children attended at the minor ailments clinic for various conditions [including scabies (8), impetigo (26), other skin conditions (36), external eye conditions (20), otorrhoea (26)]. Hospital Treatment. 82 children were referred to various hospitals for treatment. Premature Babies. It is not practicable in Shipley to provide a specially prepared room for premature babies, even at the Maternity Home. The Council have provided a portable cot specially fitted for use by premature babies cared for at home; it is available free through midwives. The Council’s Consultant paediatrician (Dr. R. L. Langley) advises on the care and treament of premature and weakly infants in the district. He also consults in similar cases at the Shipley and Bingley Home. Dr. Langley visited the Home on nine occasions in 1945. Notifications to the Medical Officer of Health of premature babies (weighing less than 5J lbs. at birth) is made on the usual birth notification card. Of the 424 babies born alive in 1945, 34 (or 8%) weighed 5J lbs. or less. Of these 34, 13 (38%) died before the end of the year; of those who died 3 lived more than a week, and 2 more than a month; these last two weighed 5 lbs. at birth and died of pneumonia. No baby of less than 4 lbs. weight at birth survived. Of the 21 who survived 14 were 5 lbs. and over at birth, 7 were 4 lbs. and over. All the survivors had lived more than a month at the end of the year and one had had chickenpox. Two sets of twins are included in the series and all four children died. The causes of death are set out below. No post mortems were recorded.