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other case the child was born in the Borough, but was admitted to hospital shortly afterwards
where it stayed for six weeks, and subsequently was found to have permanent impairment of vision
in both eyes.
In 1920, there was a case of opnthalmia which finally went on to complete blindness, in regard to
which no notification was sent to me ; thus the Council's Officers were unable to secure that treatment
which has been so successful in the past three years. In this case the Council took proceedings
against the medical practitioner who had failed to notify the disease and a fine of £5 with £1 1s.
costs was imposed.
It will be seen that there has been considerable success in the treatment of this disease in
Kensington, and it is a great pleasure to be able to report that every case which has come to the
knowledge of the Officers of the Public Health Department during the past two years has been
cured without any impairment of vision, with the exception of the child who died of another
complaint before the treatment was completed.
These verv 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.
Quite apart from the intense pain and suffering associated with ophthalmia and the possible
tragedy to the child of blindness for life, there is the economic side to be considered. The charges
on rates and taxes for the education and maintenance of one blind person throughout life must
represent an enormous sum and, in view of the fact that more than 30 per cent, of the children in
blind institutions have lost their sight as a result of ophthalmia neonatorum, the grant of £200 paid
last year to the Kensington District Nursing Association by the Council must be regarded as an
economy of the wisest kind.
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
twenty-five notifications were received, 90 patients being certified as suffering from acute primary
pneumonia and 35 from influenzal pneumonia. It is clear that many cases escaped notification.
The number of deaths from pneumonia during the year was 217. There were 46 deaths
certified to be due to influenza, the deaths from this disease in the three preceding years being 46,
45 and 86.
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.—Five cases of this disease were notified, and investigation revealed that four patients
had been soldiers who had contracted the disease whilst abroad during the Great War. The
remaining case originated in South Africa.
Polio myelitis and Polio-encephalitis. —Five cases of these diseases were notified during
the year, particulars of which are subjoined.
1. Female. Aged 6 years. Notified April 20th. Recovered.
2. Female. Aged 5 years. Notified August 11th. Removed to St. Mary's Hospital,
July 27th. Recovered.
3. Female. Aged 19 years. Notified August 31st. Removed tc St. George's Hospital,
August 30th. Died August 31st.
4. Female. Aged 3 years. Notified November 22nd. When last heard of was still in
the Victoria Hospital for Children, Chelsea.
5. Male. Aged 2½ years. Notified November 30th. Still in hospital with infantile
paralysis.
Other Notifiable Diseases.—With the exception of tuberculosis, which is dealt with in a
separate section, no notifiable infectious diseases, other than those to which reference has been
made, were notified during the year.
NON-NOTIFIABLE DISEASES.
Measles.—This disease caused 15 deaths during the year. The deaths in the three preceding
years were 23, 1 and 58. Measles ceased to be compulsorily notifiable in December, 1919, but the
Head Teachers of the London County Council schools report to Medical Officers of Health all
cases, both of children suffering from measles and of children kept away from school by reason of
the disease existing in their homes.
In view of the dangerous complications which are liable to follow neglected cases of measles,
the Women Health Officers pay a great deal of attention to children suffering from this disease in
the poorer quarters of the Borough. Four hundred and eighty-seven visits to cases of measles
were paid by these officers during the year.
Whooping Cough. —There were 23 deaths from this cause, all except two of the children
dying being under the age of 5 years. The deaths in the three preceding years were 22, 22 and 27.
The Women Health Officers paid 97 visits to cases of this disease during the year.