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25
ally admitted that the risk of some septic infection
following a mis-carriage is considerable, particularly
when, as is no doubt the case, many of these miscarriages
are brought about intentionally, either by
drugs or instruments. All these cases of puerperal
fever following mis-carriage were notified from the
Fulham Infirmary, and as in many places it is unusual
to notify such cases as puerperal fever, this may account
for the relatively high figure which is shown in
Fulham compared with the other Metropolitan boroughs.
Ophthalmia Neonatorum.—Twenty-two infants were
notified as suffering from ophthalmia neonatorum,
of whom 7 were removed to hospital. This total
compares with thirty-three notifications during 1922,
of whom 8 were removed to hospital. The result of
the cases was as under
Cases
notified.
Treated
at home.
In hospital.
Vision
impaired.
Vision
unimpaired.
Total
blindness.
Deaths.
Left the
district.
22 15 7 Nil 16 1 Nil 5
Measles.—Of the total of 1951 cases of measles
notified during 1923, 1,037 occurred in children under
the age of 5 years. A special report on this subject
appears under the heading of Infectious Disease later
in this Report.
Diarrhoea.—Seventy-nine cases of diarrhoea were
notified during 1923, compared with 17 during 1922.
No doubt the hotter summer of 1923 had much to do
with this increase. All of the cases of diarrhoea were
under five years of age. All cases of " Epidemic
Diarrhoea " or " Zymotic Enteritis," under the age
of five years are compulsorily notifiable in Fulham
by special order of the Borough Council made under