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Six cases of puerperal fever were notified in Chelsea in 1918. There
were 4 deaths from this disease.
Nineteen cases of ophthalmia neonatorum were notified in Chelsea
in 1918, and an additional eleven cases of eye trouble in infants, which
were not notified, were visited. Of these 30 cases, 23 made complete
recoveries, and the remainder were left with some eye weakness.
Sale of Food and Drugs Acts.
Of the 400 samples taken for analysis in 1918, 94 were milk, 81 being
genuine, and 18 adulterated, equivalent to 13·8 per cent. of the total
milks examined, as against 8·1 per cent. in 1917, and 6·0 per cent. in 1916.
Of the 18 adulterated samples, proceedings were taken in 6 cases, and
convictions obtained in 4 cases. In the other 7 cases, no proceedings
were taken in five, as the vendors were protected by warranties. In
one case the milk vendor's business had been sold before proceedings could
be taken, and the person liable could not be traced. In one case
the amount of adulteration was insufficient to warrant proceedings.
The other samples taken included coffee, mustard, confectionery,
non-wheaten flours, jam, tea, bread, baking powder, cocoa, wheaten
flour and beer.
Work of the Public Health Department.
During the year 1918, 699 separate premises were reported on by the
staff, 237 of this number being with reference to cases of notifiable infectiousdisease,
and 157 in the course of house-to-house inspections made in
certain of the poorer streets of the Borough. Legal proceedings were
taken in one case to enforce compliance with notices under the Public
Health (London) Act, and an order was made for the execution of the
necessary works.
During the year 487 inspections were made of factories, workshops,
laundries, etc.
Disinfection.—In 1918, 272 premises were disinfected after cases of
infectious and other disease, and an additional 182 rooms were disinfected
for bugs and other vermin. At the disinfecting station, 545 separate
articles of bedding and clothing were disinfected, and 473 consignments
of meat, fish, rabbits, butter, eggs, cheese, condensed milk, tomatoes and
jam, bedding and carcases of animals were destroyed in the incinerator.
Verminous school children.—In 1918, 36 children attending elementary
schools in the Borough were reported as being found by the school nurses
to be in a verminous condition. The corresponding number in 1917 was
62, in 1916, 72, in 1915, 65, and in 1914, 266. Altogether 47 home visits
were paid in connection with this work.
Scabics.—The number of cases of school children reported as being
affected with scabies in 1918 was 104, as against 66 in 1917. Altogether
141 visits to homes were paid in connection with these cases.
Staff.—The staff has been the same as in 1917.