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Of the 4 cases occurring in obstetric hospitals 2 were removed to
St. Margaret's Hospital, Leighton Road, Kentish Town.
Of the 5 cases occurring, 4 recovered without any injury whatever,
but the fifth case born in a maternity hospital died at St. Margaret's
Hospital, death being certified as due to Bronchitis and Ophthalmia
Neonatorum.
On 9th August the Minister of Health issued the new Ophthalmia
Neonatorum Regulations, which operated from 1st October, 1926.
Under these Regulations the duty of notifying is placed solely upon the
medical practitioner in attendance upon the case. By the provisions of
the earlier Regulations of 1914 an obligation also rested upon the certified
midwife to notify any case in which she had reasonable grounds for
supposing that a child was suffering from Ophthalmia Neonatorum, but
it had been represented to the Ministry that the system of dual
notification had in some instances resulted in complete failure to notify,
and that the midwives being also obliged to call in medical help for any
inflammation of, or discharge from, the eyes, however slight, and to
send notice to the Local Supervising Authority, had tended to confuse
them as to their duty under the Regulations.
In Hampstead, by agreement between the Council and the two
local Nursing Associations, the services of the nurses are available for
any such cases as need their help.
Measles.
During the year 1,617 cases were notified, this being the largest
number recorded since notification became compulsory. Fortunately
the disease was not of a severe type, and this fact, together with the
aids now available in the way of removal to hospital, provision of
skilled nursing, etc., accounts for the relatively small number of deaths.
Only 9 deaths occurred, and the following is the information in relation
to these fatal cases :—