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46
Satisfactory to be able to record that ophthalmia neonatorum was
only present in 3 out of 19 babies subsequently born. We had
endeavoured to induce the mothers of two of these infants to attend
the Special Department at the Royal Free Hospital for treatment of
the endocervicitis present in each case, but they had been most irregular
in their attendances. In the third case the Pathologist's report had not
led us to anticipate the appearance of ophthalmia neonatorum and
so no treatment had been given to the mothers beyond a course of
baths. Fortunately in her baby's case, and in one of the others, the
conditions cleared up very quickly and does not seem to have been
severe enough to be notified. In one of the cases, however, where the
mother was slack in her attendances for treatment at the Special Clinic,
the baby's eyes discharged a good deal and it had to be taken into St.
Margaret's Hospital with its mother for intensive treatment. Fortunately
its eyes recovered without permanent damage. There were also
3 other cases of endocervicitis last year whom I sent for treatment to
the Special Department at the Royal Free Hospital, but they have not
yet had their babies. I have not been able to get any reports as to
the subsequent progress of three others whom I sent there for the
same purpose.
Before leaving the subject of ophthalmia neonatorum I should
like to say that only 6 cases of this disease were notified in our
Borough last year. In 3 of these, the mothers had attended our Clinics
before their babies were born. I have referred to two of these in
preceding paragraphs, namely, the child of the patient with antepartum
haemorrhage and endocervicitis where much treatment had
been given beforehand, and the child of the patient who had been so
slack in taking advantage of the treatment. Fortunately, as I said,
the conditions in both cases cleared up well after intensive treatment
of the eyes at St. Margaret's Hospital and no damage occurred to the
eyesight. In the third notified case there had been no indication
before its birth that the mother suffered from endocervicitis. Intensive
treatment was given at St. Margaret's Hospital and the discharge
from the eyes cleared up well, but a tiny opacity is left behind on one
cornea.
With regard to the 43 mothers who attended the Clinics for the
first time after their confinements, it was a real pleasure to give them
post-natal care. To give an idea of the importance of this work I