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Diphtheria—312 cases were notified, compared with
271 in 1915, but the deaths numbered only 20 against
27 in the previous year.
Enteric Fever.—Only five cases with one death
were reported, the lowest number previously recorded
being 14 in 1915.
Puerperal Fever.—Twenty-two cases of puerperal
septacsemia were notified, and there were five deaths, or
1.4 per 1,000 births.
Erysipelas.—Seventy-three cases with three deaths
were notified against an average of 119 in the preceding
five years.
Cerebro-Spinal Meningitis.—Twelve persons were
notified with this disease, of whom four died, the number
of civilian cases in 1915 being 17 with 10 deaths. The
various cases were in no way related and in only one
could any connection with Army cases be traced.
Poliomyelitis.—Three children were notified, all of
whom recovered with but slight loss of muscular power.
Ophthalmia Neonatorum.—Forty-nine infants
were notified as suffering from ophthalmia, four by midwives
and the remainder by doctors. Proceedings were
taken against a midwife for failing to notify a case of
ophthalmia which resulted in total blindness, but the
summons was dismissed by the magistrate, on the
ground that although evidence was given that a notice
had been sent to the midwife respecting the order of the
Local Government Board, requiring the notification by
midwives of cases of ophthalmia occurring in their
practice, it was not proved that she had received it.
Although the decision was clearly wrong in law, the
Council decided not to appeal against it, as the case was
reported by the London County Council to the Central
Midwives' Board, and the name of the midwife was