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 1934
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Pancras, Metropolitan Borough]
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OPHTHALMIA NEONATORUM.
| Form as Desired by Ministry of Health. | Additional Information. | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cases | Vision not Impaired. | Vision Impaired. | Total Blindness. | Deaths. | Incidence Rate per 1,000 Births. | District Nurse in Attendance provided by Borough Council. | Cases treated in Special Hospital provided by L.C.C. | |||
| Notified | Treated | |||||||||
| At Home. | In Hospital. | |||||||||
| 1934 | 33 | 17 | 16 | 31 | — | — | 2g | 13.5 | 14 | 15 |
| 1933 | 42 | 23 | 19 | 40§ | — | — | 2¶ | 16.2 | 14 | 19 |
| 1932 | 74 | 56 | 18 | 73 | — | — | 1|| | 27.6 | 30 | 15 |
| 1931 | 45 | 26 | 19 | 43† | — | — | - | 15.2 | 18 | 14 |
| 1930 | 31 ‡ | 23 | 8 | 30 | — | — | 1* | 9.1 | 17 | 6 |
| 1929 | 36 | 21 | 15 | 34 | l | — | 1* | 11.4 | 11 | 12 |
| 1928 | 32 | 24 | 8 | 32 | - | — | — | 9.8 | 12 | 6 |
| 1927 | 38 | 27 | 11 | 37 | 1 | — | 1* | 11.5 | 11 | 5 |
* Due to other causcs. † Several cases removed to unknown addresses. ‡ Excluding one case, information unobtamable.
|| Died from Prematurity, Congenital Heart Disease and Gonorrhœal Ophthalmia.
§ One moved away to unknown address.
¶ (1) Died—Prematurity. Ophthalmia Neonatorum.
(2) Died—Castro Enteritis. Ophthalmia Neonatorum, Mongolism, Imbecility,
G (1) D ied—Acute Bronchitis (before eyes had recovered).
(2) Died—Prematurity. Ophthalmia Neonatorum. Gonococcal infection.
In addition to the above, there were 42 cases of Mild Inflammation not notifiable as
Ophthalmia Neonatorum.
This disease is an inflammation of the eyes of newly born infants, resulting in a purulent
discharge within 21 days of birth. It has been compulsorily notifiable in London since 1911.
During the first few years the incidence averaged about 5 cases per 1,000 births in St. Pancras
Borough. By 1920 the incidence had reached 11, and this remained the approximate figure
for several years. The rate for 1930 was the lowest for a considerable period.
The disease does not seem to be as severe now as formerly. The high incidence
can only be explained by the thoroughness with which notification is observed. It is certainly
better to err on this side. Out of the 33 notifications this year, only three were considered
"grave." There were 9 of "moderate " severity, and 21 were returned as " slight."
The true condition is still a prolific cause of blindness. This is definitely seen in those
countries where Ophthalmia Neonatorum is not regarded with due consideration. In the
past seven years, out of 371 cases, including all the doubtful ones, we have had two cases
where the vision was permanently impaired. Without our present protective routine, it is
probable that the incidence would become higher still, that there would be a greater proportion
of true and "grave" cases, and that "Impaired Vision" and "Blindness" would
result more commonly.
In 16 cases the mother was giving birth to her first baby, and seven of these were
illegitimate babies. In 14 cases the confinement took place at home, and of these 12 were
attended by midwives, one by a doctor and one by a medical student. Nineteen of the babies
were born in Hospitals or Maternity Homes. Twenty-six mothers received ante-natal care.