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Only 1 case of poliomyelitis (infantile paralysis) was notified in
Chelsea in 1916 —a boy of 1½ years, who was removed to St. George's
Hospital.
Twenty-two cases of ophthalmia neonatorum were notified in Chelsea
in 1916, and an additional 3 cases of eye trouble in infants, which were
not notified, were visited by the Woman Sanitary Inspector. Of these 25
cases, 14 made complete recoveries; 8 were left with some eye weakness;
in 1 case the sight of 1 eye was permanently lost; in 1 case the infant
died; and 1 was untraced. Steps were taken in every case to ensure
that the affected eyes received appropriate treatment.
Only 2 cases of puerperal fever were notified in Chelsea in 1916, as
compared with 5 cases in 1915, and 8 in 1914. One case ended fatally.
Both cases were attended in their confinements by midwives. One case
was removed to the Chelsea Infirmary.
Whooping cough caused 17 deaths in 1916, as compared with 8 in
1915. Six of the fatal cases were of infants under 1 year. The schools
notified 149 children as suffering from this disease, and 66 contacts were
also excluded from school attendance.
Work of the Public Health Department.
During the year 1916, 810 separate premises were reported on by the
staff, 292 of this number being with reference to cases of notifiable
infectious disease, and 213 in the course of house-to-house inspections
made in certain of the poorer streets of the Borough. Legal proceedings
were taken in 1 case to enforce compliance with notices under the Public
Health (London) Act, the owner being fined £2 and an order made for
the execution of the works.
During the year 374 inspections were made of factories and
workshops.
Verminous School Children. — In 1916, 72 children attending
elementary schools in the Borough were reported as being found by the
school nurses to be in a verminous condition, as regards their heads, their
bodies, or both heads and bodies. The corresponding number in 1915
was 65 children, and in 1914 266 children. All the homes of the
verminous children reported were visited by the Woman Sanitary
Inspector; altogether 43 visits were paid in connection with this work,
several cases occurring in one family. Nineteen persons (all but 1
children) suffering from scabies attended at the disinfecting station for
baths, and altogether 91 baths were given for this complaint.
Disinfection.—During the year 463 premises were disinfected after
cases of infectious or other disease, and an additional 259 rooms were
disinfected for bugs and other vermin. At the disinfecting station 1,191
separate articles of bedding and clothing were disinfected, and 158
articles were destroyed in the incinerator. Of the total 1,191 articles
disinfected, 1,002 were blankets, clothing and uniforms sent by the
Military Authorities, for which no charge was made. In 1915, 3,626
articles were disinfected for the military, so that there was a very large
reduction in 1916 in the amount of disinfection done for the Army.
Sale of Food and Drugs Acts.— Of the 400 samples taken for
analysis in 1916, 137 were milk, 129 being genuine, and 8 adulterated,
equivalent to 6.0 per cent, of the total milks examined, as against 3.8 per
cent. in 1915 and 6.0 per cent. in 1914. Of the 8 adulterated samples,