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
Holborn 1929
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Holborn Borough]
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114
Ophthalmia Neonatorum.
During the year 7 eases of ophthalmia neonatorum were brought to our
notice, 5 of which were notified in pursuance of the Public Health (Ophthalmia
Neonatorum) Regulations, 1926 and 1928; 2 of the notifications were from doctors
in private practice; 2 from the Medical Officer of a hospital, and 1 from the
Medical Officer of a dispensary.
In 2 cases notification in accordance with the Regulations were not received;
information respecting these came from the London County Council.
Unless each case is notified to the local Medical Officer of Health, the public
will be ignorant of the real extent of the disease; the whole of the cases cannot be
followed up to ascertain the amount of permanent damage done to the eyesight.
In addition information concerning 4 cases of slight inflammation of the eves
was received from the London County Council.
| Case Number. | Age when Notified. | Age at Onset. | By whom Notified. | Type of Disease on Health Visitor's first visit. | Where Treated. | Medical Attendance and Nursing. | Result. | Birth Notified by. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 17 days | 13 days | Doctor (Dispensary Practice) | Not seen (removed to Hospital) | At Out-patient department & in Hospital | Out-Patient,Charing Cross Hospital; In-patient, Royal Free Hospital and Holborn and Highgate Hospital | Cured | Not born in Holborn |
| 2 | 8 days | 6 days | Doctor (Hospital) | Not seen | In Hospital | Maternity ward, Royal Free Hospital, later inpatient St. Margaret's Hospital | Cured | Extern Department, Hospital |
| 3 | 17 days | 3 days | Doctor (Private Practice) | Slight in both eyes | At Home | Private doctor | Cured | Doctor (Private Practice) |
| 4 | 13 days | 10 days | Doctor (Hospital) | Not seen | In Hospital | Maternity ward, Charing Cross Hospital. Later inpatient St. Margaret's Hospital | Cured | Intern Department, Hospital |
| 5 | 7 days | 6 days | Doctor (Private Practice) | Moderate; right eye only | At Home | Private doctor—District nurse | Cured | Doctor (Private Practice) |
| Two Cases not Notified in accordance with the Public Health (Ophthalmia Neonatorum) Regulations, 1926 and 1928. | ||||||||
| 6 | 13 days | 1 day | London County Council | Slight (both eyes) | Home | University College Hospital Out-patient. later In-patient St. Margaret's Hospital | Cured | Extern Department, Hospital |
| 7 | 8 days | 2 days | London County Council | Slight case only | Home | Charing Cross Hospital Out-patient | Cured | Extern Department Hospital |