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101
Ophthalmia neonatorum is one of the most important causes of blindness.
Fortunately, however, as far as we have been able to ascertain, no case coming
to our knowledge last year in the Borough suffered permanent injury in this way.
One child died in hospital when 14 days old. In 2 cases reliable information
could not be obtained because the mothers of the infants did not return to this
Borough, but in the remaining eight cases there was definite evidence that the
patients were cured. This result was secured by the expenditure of much time
and energy, and incidentally money, by all concerned; the occurrence of most, if
not all, of the cases could have been prevented by a simple procedure. A year
or so ago the Scottish Board of Health issued a circular to medical practitioners
strongly recommending the installation of silver nitrate solution into the eyes
of newly.born children, and intimating that they will in future require a report
with particulars of treatment from Medical Officers of Health in all cases in
which there occurs loss of vision. In this country the installation has been
recommended with fortunate results by at least several Medical Officers of Health
to those attending childbirths in their areas, but legislation in some form
advocating or requiring its adoption generally is required so that the whole country
may benefit.

Whooping Cough.
Visits were paid to 152 persons suffering from whooping cough. Of these
113 were notified by doctors; in 17 others the information was derived from the
schools; 10 from the Health Visitors; 5 from parents, 4 from hospitals, and
1 from death returns.
Nine died, 4 were under 1 year, and 5 between 1 and 5 years.
Age.
Nineteen were children under 1 year, eighty-eight were aged 1 to 5 years,
and forty-five 5 to 16 years.