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

St Pancras 1914

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Pancras, London, Borough of]

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Table: The cases are classified on the following page according as the mothers were attended in their confinement by doctors, midwives from University College Hospital, other midwives or medical students (in their own homes), or were delivered in hospital.

The cases are classified on the following page according as the mothers were attended in their confinement by doctors, midwives from University College Hospital, other midwives or medical students (in their own homes), or were delivered in hospital.

Attended at birth byCases of Ophthalmia Neonatorum.Total number of births notified.No. of cases per 1000 births notified.
Doctors1315908
Midwives from U.C.H02620
Other Midwives13101113
Medical Students213731.5
Delivered in Lying-in Hospitals6....
„ Workhouse0....
34

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These figures, like those of last year, show that, judging from the cases
notified, much more ophthalmia neonatorum occurred in the practice of
doctors and midwives than in that of the extern midwifery work of the
hospitals (University College, Middlesex, and Royal Free). There is, moreover,
no reason for believing that cases occur in the latter without, being
notified. This is probably connected with the use of silver nitrate solution
as a preventive application to the eyes of the infants soon after birth, which
is the method adopted by the medical students and midwives sent out by
the hospitals.

Table: The total figures since the disease became notifiable (1911-1914) are as follows:—

The total figures since the disease became notifiable (1911-1914) are as follows:—

Attended at birth byCases of Ophthalmia Neonatorum.Total number of births notified.No. of cases per 1000 births notified.
Doctors3972745
Midwives4055647
Medical Students448280.8
Delivered in Hospitals17....

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The 34 cases were treated as follows:—
By private Doctor, nursing being done by members of family 7
„ ' Visiting Nurse 11
By Hospitals (out-patient departments):—Central London
Ophthalmic Hospital, Royal London Ophthalmic
Hospital 8
University College Hospital 1
,, Middlesex Hospital 2
„ North-West London Hospital 1
— 12
(Of these 8 were nursed by Visiting Nurse and 4 by members of family).
Admitted to Royal London Ophthalmic Hospital 1
„ St. Pancras Infirmary 2
Treated in Queen Charlotte's Lying-in Hopital 1
34
The results of treatment were as follows:—
Complete recovery 27
Sight damaged, but improving 2
Blindness 0
Cases lost sight of 4
Died 3 days after notification 1
34