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42
All cases of ophthalmia neonatorum notified are at once
visited by the Health Visitors, and steps are taken to see that
they are receiving medical treatment—either at home or in
hospital. When cases are receiving medical treatment at
home, nursing attendance, where required, is provided free of
charge by the Council.
During 1921 no permanent damage to the eye-sight resulted
from this grave infectious disease of the eyes amongst the
61 infants notified.
Acute Polio Myelitis.
During 1921, 2 cases of acute polio-myelitis were notified
in the Borough, as compared with 1 in 1920 and 6 in 1919.
One case was removed to hospital, and the other was treated
at home. The latter was fatal.
Bacteriological Examinations
During the year 1921 the number of bacteriological
examinations of specimens sent in by medical practitioners
practising in the Borough of Battersea was 1,456. These
specimens were examined at the Clinical Research Association's
Laboratories at a cost of £215 9s. 3d., particulars of the results
being set out in the following table:—
Suspected disease.
Positive
Results.
Negative
Results.
Total
Diphtheria 282 918 1200
Enteric fever 8 18 21
Tuberculosis 86 199 285
Total 821 1185 1456
TUBERCULOSIS.
During 1921 there were 216 deaths from tuberculosis
registered as belonging to the Borough of Battersea. Of this
number 170 (i.e., 78·7 per cent.) were due to phthisis (tuberculosis
of the lungs), 18 to tubercular meningitis, and 28 to
other forms of the disease.
The number of deaths from phthisis and other tubercular
diseases and the death-rate per 1,000 population in each of the
sub-districts are set out in the following table-