London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Finsbury 1937
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Finsbury Borough]
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43
Last year 10 cases were referred for the attention of the
Inspector.
| No. of Cases notified 1937 | Cases treated | No. Vision unimpaired | No. Vision impaired | Total Blindness | No. of Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| at Home | in Hospital | |||||
| 11 | 8 | 3 | 11 | - | - | l |
The death was from a cause other than ophthalmia neonatorum.
Two patients removed whilst under treatment.
Eleven cases were notified in 1937. Each case was visited and
revisited by a Health Visitor until its termination. Twenty-five
visits in all were made. In no case was there impairment of vision.
The London County Council reserves beds in St. Margaret's Hospital,
Kentish Town, for the treatment of severe cases.
In addition to the notification of true cases of Ophthalmia
Neonatorum by medical men, midwives have to report cases of
inflammation of the eye, and these are also kept under observation
by the Health Visitors.
Prevention of Blindness—Blind Persons Act 1920.
The administration of the Blind Persons Act 1920 is in the
hands of the London County Council. There are no blind children
under 5 years of age known to the Department.
Out of 842 Finsbury births notified in 1937, there were 14 cases of Puerperal Pyrexia and three cases of Puerperal Fever. The causes were as follows:—
| Abortion | 1 | Pyaemia | 1 |
| Acute Adenitis | 1 | Retained Products | 1 |
| Broncho-pneumonia | 1 | Sapraemia | 1 |
| Lobar Pneumonia | 1 | Septicaemia | 1 |
| Local Infection | 2 | Tensity of Breasts | 1 |
| Mastitis | 1 | Urinary Infection | 1 |
| Pyelitis | 1 | Unknown Origin | 3 |