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89
possibility of puerperal complications, and enables her to recognise
the necessity of calling in medical assistance at the earliest
indication of danger.
In March, 1906, the London County Council called the
attention of Boards of Guardians in the Metropolis to the rules
made by the Central Midwives. Board under the Midwives.Act,
1902, one of which rules prohibits a midwife from attending
alone upon certain cases of difficulty, and places on her the
duty of advising that the services of a medical practitioner be
obtained, but no provision is made either in the Act or rules
made thereunder for the payment of fees of medical practitioners
who may be summoned in such cases, and in which the patients
are too poor to pay.
Upon consideration of the representations made to them on
the subject, the Guardians agree (in cases in which the patient
was not in receipt of poor law relief) to pay the fee of any
medical practitioner called in by a midwife under the rule of
the Central Midwives. Board, where the person was obviously
too poor to pay.
Ophthalmia Neonatorum.
This is an extremely serious affection which attacks the
eyes of newly-born infants. It is usually caused by the
entrance of certain bacteria into the eyes at the time of birth.
The symptoms, redness and swelling of the eyelids, make their
appearance in about three or four days after birth, and the
disease frequently runs such an acute course that if proper
treatment is not applied immediately the eyes are permanently
damaged and the child is rendered blind for life.
The extent to which this disease is prevalent in this
country is shown by the statements made by well-known
authorities that over one-third of the inmates of schools for
the blind lost their sight as a result of this disease. On the
other hand, it is no less certain that if this disease is brought