London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Kensington 1930

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington Borough]

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From the above table it will be seen that ten cases recovered without any injury to sight, and
the one other case was a child removed to Switzerland before the disease had terminated.
Since the year 1920 there has occurred only one case resulting in blindness. This very
gratifying result is largely due to the efforts made by the Council's health officers to secure
hospital treatment, and to the excellent arrangements which the Borough Council have entered
into with the Kensington District Nursing Association for the home treatment.
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 1930, the ophthalmia
neonatorum and inflammation of the eye cases attended by the nurses numbered 21 and the
number of home visits paid in connection with these cases was 491. These visits average 23 to
each of the 21 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 491.
Puerperal Fever.—During the year, eight cases of this disease were notified. Five were admitted
to St. Mary Abbots Hospital after confinement; two of these died and three recovered. One woman
was confined in that institution and made a satisfactory recovery. Two women were confined in
their own homes and were attended by private medical practitioners; both recovered.
Puerperal Pyrexia.—Twenty-four cases of puerperal pyrexia were notified during the year.
One occurred in a nursing home, seven in hospitals to which the patients had been removed prior
to their confinements, and sixteen in the homes of the patients ; of these sixteen, seven were
subsequently removed to hospital for treatment, whilst the remaining nine received medical attention
in their own homes.
Four of the notified cases of puerperal pyrexia proved fatal; three of these were confined at
home and subsequently removed to St. Mary Abbots Hospital. The fourth case was also confined
at home and was removed to Queen Charlotte's Hospital.
During the year, the Council retained the services of Dr. Remington Hobbs as their consultant
gynaecologist under the Public Health (Puerperal Fever and Puerperal Pyrexia) Regulations,
1926 Dr. Hobbs was consulted by local practitioners in twenty-five cases and visited three
patients in their homes. Thirty-five cases of puerperal sepsis were admitted from their homes to St.
Mary Abbots Hospital for treatment by him. For these services, Dr. Hobbs receives a remuneration
of fifty guineas per annum. Owing to the large amount of excellent work being carried out
at St. Mary Abbots Hospital by Dr. Hobbs for the benefit of Kensington women in connection
with the prevention of disability following puerperal sepsis, the Council have made a grant to
him of £30 per annum, in addition to his remuneration as consultant gynaecologist, in order that
he may obtain medical assistance in the treatment of these patients.
Malaria.—Three cases of this disease were notified during the year. Investigations revealed
that in one case the disease was contracted on the Gold Coast, West Africa, and two were cases of
induced malaria, the patients being inmates of mental hospitals.

Encephalitis Lethargica.—In 1930, there were only two cases reported in Kensington and the following table gives details:—

No.Sex.Age.Date of Notification.Result.
1F.53March 15thStill under doctor—recovering.
2F.59November 6th.Died.

Poliomyelitis and Polio-Encephalitis.—One case of poliomyelitis was notified on December
26th to the Public Health Department. The patient was a boy of one year, who is still in hospital.

Cerebro-Spinal Meningitis.—There were three cases of this disease notified during the year; particulars are subjoined:—

No.Sex.Age.Date of notification.Result.
1F.April 10thRecovered
2M.40do. 28thdo.
3F.26July 24thDied.