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 1932
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Holborn Borough]
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87
Ophthalmia Neonatorum.
During the year 5 cases of ophthalmia neonatorum were brought to our
notice, 4 of which were notified in pursuance of the Public Health (Ophthalmia
Neonatorum) Regulations, 19.26 and 1928; 1 of the notifications was from a doctor
in private practice, 2 from the Medical Officers of hospitals, and 1 from the doctor
of a Nursing Home.
In 1 case notification in accordance with the Regulations was not received;
in this case information 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.
Four Cases Notified in Accordance with the Public Health (Ophthalmia Neonatorum) Regulations.
| Case Number. | Age when Notified. | Age at Onset. | By whom Notified. | Type of Disease on Health Visitor's first call. | Where Treated. | Medical Attendance and Nursing. | Result. | Birth Notified by. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10 days | 8 days | Doctor (Hospital) | Slight | Hospital and later at home | Maternity Ward—Hospital and Nurse from Hospital in home | Cured | Extern Department, Hospital |
| 3 | 7 days | 4 days | Doctor (Private Practice) | Moderate | At home | Doctor (Private Practice) Nurse (Maternity Nurses Institution) | Cured | Midwife, Institution |
| 4 | 12 days | 9 days | Doctor (Private Practice) | Very slight | At home | Doctor and Nurse | Cured | Extern Department, Institution |
| 5 | 8 days | 6 days | Doctor (Nursing Home) | - | Nursing Home | Nursing Home | Cured | Nursing home |
| One Case not Notified in Accordance with the Public Health (Ophthalmia Neonatorum) Regulations. | ||||||||
| 3 | 25 days | 15 days | Source of Information: London County Council | None apparent on 12th day | In hospital | North-Western Hospital | Cured | Extern Department, Hospital |