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the medical practitioner who answers the call, and that in
consequence some midwives are reluctant to call in medical
help for this condition. It appears to the Minister to be
important that nothing should be done which would be likely
to deter midwives from promptly seeking medical aid in all
cases of inflammation of, or discharge from, the eyes, however
slight, and he suggests that the London County Council
should consider whether they should not refrain in future
from exercising their power of recovery under Section 14 (4)
of the Midwives Act, 1918, in this class of case.
I append the Regulations as made by the Minister.
Public Health, England.
Prevention of Epidemic, Endemic or Infectious Diseases.
The Public Health (Ophthalmia Neonatorum) Regulations,
1926, dated July 31, 1926, made by the Minister of
Health.
The Minister of Health, in exercise of the powers conferred upon
him by the Public Health Act, 1875, the Public Health (London)
Act, 1891, and the Public Health Act, 1896, and of every other
power enabling him in that behalf, hereby makes the following
regulations :—
1. These regulations may be cited as the Public Health (Ophthalmia
Neonatorum) Regulations, 1926, and shall come into operation on the
1st day of October, 1926.
2.—(1) In these regulations, unless the contrary intention appears:—
" Local authority " means the common council of the City of
London, the council of a metropolitan borough, the council of a
municipal borough, or other urban district, or the council of a rural
district;
"Medical officer of health" means medical officer of health of a
local authority;
"Medical practitioner" means any person for the time being
registered under the Medical Acts;
"Ophthalmia neonatorum" means a purulent discharge from the
eyes of an infant commencing within twenty-one days from the date
of its birth;
"The Minister" means the Minister of Health;
"The Infectious Disease (Notification) Acts" means the Infectious
Disease (Notification) Acts, 1889 to 1899, and includes Section 55 of
the Public Health (London) Act, 1891, and any provisions relating to
the notification of infectious disease contained in any local Act or
Order made thereunder.
(2) The Interpretation Act, 1889, shall apply to the interpretation
of these regulations as it applies to the interpretation of an Act of
Parliament.
3. The Public Health (Ophthalmia Neonatorum) Regulations, 1914,
and, so far as they relate to ophthalmia neonatorum, the Notification
of Infectious Disease (London) Regulations, 1920, are hereby revoked,
but without prejudice to any right, obligation, or liability acquired,
accrued or incurred thereunder.
4. The local authority shall enforce and execute these regulations in
their district and shall forthwith cause notice to be given to all medical
practitioners resident or practising within the district of the duties
thereby imposed upon them.