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52
OPHTHALMIA NEONATORUM.
Eighteen cases of ophthalmia neonatorum were notified during the
year. Five of these cases were treated in hospital. In tabular form
is shown below, as required by the Ministry of Health, the result of
each case :—

Nine cases of the disease were notified the previous year.
Nursing. By arrangement with the Chelsea District Nursing Association,
home nursing is provided for infants suffering from this disease.
INFLUENZA.
Influenza caused 41 deaths in 1927, as against 11 in the previous
year. There was no serious epidemic prevalence of the disease and
no special action was called for in the Borough in regard to it.
Nursing Provision. By arrangement with the Chelsea District Nursing
Association all severe cases of influenza receive skilled nursing attention,
where circumstances render this necessary.
POLIOMYELITIS AND POLIO-ENCEPHALITIS.
No cases of Poliomyelitis and Polio-Encephalitis were notified during
the year.
ENCEPHALITIS LETHARGICA.
No further case of Encephalitis Lethargica was notified during the
year. Six visits to old cases of Encephalitis Lethargica were made
by the Woman Sanitary Inspector during the year.
Encephalitis Lethargica is undoubtedly infectious but the infectivity
is of very low nature. The sequels may be serious, as in most cases
some permanent damage to the brain tissue occurs. The disease was
made compulsorily notifiable from Ist January, 1919.
In the following Table No. 35, is shown the numbers of cases notified
in London and in Chelsea during the years 1926 and 1927.