View report page

18
Multiple cases of the disease in the same household as well as multiple cases in institutions
have been observed in this country and elsewhere, but they are not frequent. The fact that in
Kensington there has been no evidence of spread of infection during the last five years shows that
the degree of infectivity must be low. Every case is carefully investigated with a view to
ascertaining whether there has been any contact with a known case of the disease, but no evidence
of this kind has so far accrued. Of the 21 cases notified in Kensington in 19'24, there were not two
in one house and, indeed, every case was in a separate street except two which occurred in houses
well apart in one of the longest streets in the Borough.
Ophthalmia Neonatorum.—Fourteen cases were notified during the year, the numbers in
the preceding years being 33, 20 and 21.
The Women Health Officers take great pains to obtain the best possible treatment. Every
case is visited on the day that notification is received in the Public Health Department and visits
are paid daily, if necessary, until the child is cured. Attempts are made to secure the child's and
mother's admission to hospital and, if these are unsuccessful, arrangements are made for a nurse
from the Kensington District Nursing Association, who has been trained in ophthalmia treatment,
to visit the home as frequently as is necessary to carry out the nursing instructions of the medical
attendant. Care is taken that a medical man is in attendance on every case.
One of the 14 notified infants was treated in the St. Mary Abbot's Hospital, 7 were admitted
to the Metropolitan Asylums Board Ophthalmia Hospital, 2 were treated in the out.patient
departments of hospitals, one at the Baby Clinic, and the remaining 3 were attended at home by
general medical practitioners.
It is the duty of midwives to report all forms of inflammation of the eye, even when the
condition is not ophthalmia neonatorum, and these cases, in addition to pure ophthalmia cases,
are dealt with by the Kensington District Nursing Association. In 1924, the ophthalmia neonatorum
and inflammation of the eye cases attended by the nurses numbered 52 and the number
of home visits paid in connection with these cases was 586. These visits average 11 to each of
the 52 patients, and indicate the great, amount of trouble taken with this disease. The visits paid
by the Council's Women Health Officers are not included in the 586.
In one case the child died of another complaint whilst being treated for ophthalmia, and in
every other case the disease has been cured without any damage to sight.
There was a similarly splendid record in 1923 and in 1922.
These very gratifying results are largely due to the efforts made by the Council's Health
Officers to secure hospital treatment for these cases, and to the excellent arrangement which the
Borough Council have entered into wich the Kensington District Nursing Association for the home
treatment of this disease.
Pneumonia and Influenzal Pneumonia.—There are many forms of pneumonia, but the
only kinds notifiable are acute primary pneumonia and influenzal pneumonia. One hundred and
fifty.seven notifications were received, 101 patients being certified as suffering from acute primary
pneumonia and 56 from influenzal pneumonia. It is clear that many cases escaped notification.
The number of deaths from pneumonia during the year was 258. There were 67 deaths
certified to be due to influenza, the deaths from this disease in the three preceding years being 45,
86 and 46.
The Sanitary Inspectors and, if necessary, the Women Health Officers visited the homes of all
notified cases of pneumonia with a view to giving assistance in connection with isolation,
disinfection, etc.
Under their agreement with the Council, the Kensington District Nursing Association have
rendered valuable help in connection with cases of pneumonia.
Malaria.—Three cases of this disease were notified, and investigation revealed that two patients
had been soldiers who had contracted the disease whilst abroad during the Great War. The
remaining case originated in West Africa.
Polio.myelitis and Polio.encephalitis.—These are diseases which attack the central
nervous system and may give rise to paralysis; in this respect they are comparable with
cerebro.spinal meningitis and encephalitis lethargica. The diseases have long been known,
under the name of " infantile paralysis," as a form of paralysis of which sporadic cases occur,
chiefly in children and less frequently in adults. In recent years the diseases have occurred
in epidemic form, and as they are undoubtedly infectious they have been made compulsorily
notifiable. The degree of infectivity, as in the case of encephalitis lethargica, is of a low order
and it is only seldom that association can be traced between the cases which are notified.
One case in a household is rarely followed by a second.
There were ten cases in Kensington during 1924, as against 2, 0 and 5 in the three
preceding years, The particulars of the cases are subjoined.
1. Male. Aged 5 years. Notified 14th February. Treated at home. Died.
2. Male. Aged 2 years. Notified 26th June. Still receiving treatment for paralysis at
Roehampton.
3. Male. Aged 8 months. Notified 7th July. Still an out.patient of St. Mary's
Hospital for paralysis of arm.