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Hospital, Metropolitan Asylums Board within an hour of receipt of
the notification,and was discharged four months later with permanent
loss of vision in both eyes.
The conduct of the midwife was reported to the Central Midwives
Board for investigation. The Board subsequently referred
the case to the Local Supervising Authority—the London County
Council—for disciplinary action. In view of the action taken by
these Authorities, the Borough Council did not take proceedings
against the Midwife for breach of Art. VI. of the Public Health
(Ophthalmia Neonatorum) Regulations, 1915, but directed that a
cautionary letter be sent to her as to her future conduct in this
respect.
In the other case the child was born in a hospital outside the
Borough, and developed the disease while in hospital, and was not
discharged from there until after six weeks. In spite of every care,
however, permanent damage to the right eye resulted.
Acute Polio-Myelitis.
During 1923, 8 cases of acute polio-myelitis were notified
in the Borough, as compared with 4 in 1922, 2 in 1921, 1 in 1920 and
6 in 1919. Seven cases were removed to hospital, the other being
treated at home. There was no death from this disease in 1923,
as compared with 1 death in 1922.
Erysipelas.
During 1923, 84 cases of erysipelas were notified and 3 deaths
were registered from the disease, as compared with 66 cases and 2
deaths in 1922 and 75 cases and 3 deaths in 1921. The case-mortality
was 3·6 per cent., and the death-rate per 1,000 of the population
was 0·018.
Bacteriological Examinations.
During the year 1923, the number of bacteriological examinations
of specimens sent in by medical practitioners practising in
the Borough of Battersea was 1,048. These specimens were
examined at the Clinical Research Association's Laboratories at a
cost of £135 15s. 2d., particulars of the results being set out in
the following table:—
Suspected disease.
Positive
Results.
Negative
Results.
Total.
Diphtheria 146 890 1,036
Enteric fever 2 8 10
Tuberculosis — 1 1
Other — 1 1
Total 148 900 1,048