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Ophthalmia Neonatorum
Seven cases of this disease were notified. Two of these
cases were treated in hospital and the others at home. All
recovered without injury to sight.
Enteritis
This disease is notifiable in children up to the age of five
years and during the year 64 cases were reported; of these 57 were
treated in hospital.
During the year, there were 10 deaths of children under 2
years of age suffering from diarrhoea.
With the approval of the Council an anti-fly propaganda
campaign was carried out during the summer.
The major feature of the campaign was the staging of an
exhibition during the week 17th to 24th July, 1948, at the
National Savings premises in Kensington High Street. Various
exhibits and posters supplied by the Army School of Hygiene and
by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries were on display;
and suitable literature, including the Council's Handbook of
Health and Other Services, was distributed. A member of the
staff of the Public Health Department attended each day to
explain the exhibits and to answer questions.
Approximately two thousand people attended the exhibition
during the week.
Acute Rheumatism
The Kensington (Acute Rheumatism) Regulations expired on
30th November, 1948. These Regulations were introduced in 1927
and provided for the notification of the disease in children
up to the age of 14 years. A supervisory scheme included home
visiting, a special clinic for treatment at Princess Louise
Hospital for Children, and the reservation of beds at this
hospital for in-patient treatment.
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The Minister of Health decided not to extend the Acute
Rheumatism Regulations beyond 30th November, 1948, in view of
the treatment facilities available under the National Health
Service Act, 1946. However, arrangements were made to continue
the special facilities at Princess Louise Hospital.
During the period 1st January, 1948, to 30th November, 1948,
there were 7 cases of acute rheumatism notified and three of
these were admitted to Princess Louise Hospital for treatment.
Scabies
The special scheme of control of scabies introduced during
the war in 1941 was withdrawn by the Minister of Health on
31st December, 1947. The normal vigilance exercised by the
Council continues and in 1948 the number of notifications was
only 141, compared with 239 in the previous year and 463 in
the peak year 1946.
Whooping Cough
Two hundred and sixty-four cases were notified during the
year, 33 of which were treated in hospital.
Five deaths occurred from this disease.