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13
[1926
PEMPHIGUS NEONATORUM.
In May, 1925, the Ministry of Health issued a memorandum on Pemphigus
Neonatorum, a rare disease which is met with in two types, a mild form in which
the large blisters with watery fluid are few, and a grave type in which the skin
eruption continues to spread and gives rise to fever, this second form frequently
becoming rapidly fatal. The disease is believed to be of the same nature as the
pustular contagious disease common in older children and adults, and known as
impetigo contagiosa. The importance of care is the more apparent as it is quite
obvious than an older person suffering from a skin disease might carry infection
which could be transferred to the mother or to the infant, and an infant smitten
with this disease may be the cause of a painful illness in the mother, even to the
extent of Puerperal Fever. A number of such cases have been investigated in
Islington during 1926, and fairly definite information was obtained pointing to
the disease in seven cases; three cases were reported primarily from the Royal
Free Hospital, where there had been an outbreak of the disease; one was reportec
from St. Bartholomew's Hospital; two were reported by general practitioners,
and one by a midwife, confirmed by the Medical Inspector of the London County
Council.
In one of the cases intimated by a private practitioner, a sister of the baby,
one year 5 months old, was suffering from impetigo contagiosa, as was also
another child at the same address.
THE MILK SCHEME FOR NECESSITOUS EXPECTANT AND NURSING
MOTHERS AND CHILDREN UNDER FIVE YEARS OF AGE.
During the year 1926, the sum expended in the provision of fresh and dried
milk for necessitous, expectant and nursing mothers, and children under five years
of age, amounted to £3,253 14 3d., as against £3,140 Is. lid. in 1925. The
total amount expended since the Order came into operation in 1918, is
£46,108 9s. 8d.
The total recipients during the year numbered 11,397, and the quantity of
milk supplied to them was equal to 259,359 pints (32,420 gallons).