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1936] 70
" Health Talks " were given at the four Voluntary Welfare Centres, of which
lention is made in the Maternity and Child Welfare Section of this Report, and as
in the former year, short lectures were given at the request of several social
organizations by the Public Health staff.
It is proposed that during the ensuing year increased propaganda work will be
undertaken by the department.
REPORT ON MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE WORK.
Municipal Health Visitors.
OPHTHALMIA NEONATORUM AND OPHTHALMIA.
Ophthalmia Neonatorum is an inflammatory disease with purluent discharge
occurring in the eyes of infants within three weeks of birth.
45 cases of Ophthalmia Neonatorum were notified, compared with 39 cases
last year.
121 cases of Ophthalmia were reported by the London County Council and
Health Visitors as against 118 cases during the previous year.
14 out of the 45 cases of Ophthalmia Neonatorum were attended at birth by
midwives.

Of the 45 cases investigated, both eyes of the infant were affected in 34
instances, whilst in 4 the right eye was involved, and in 7 the left.
Treatment.—12 of the 45 Ophthalmia Neonatorum cases were admitted to
St. Margaret's Hospital, 23 being treated at other Hospitals, and 10 cases were
treated at home by private Doctors.
18 cases of inflammatory disease of infants' eyes were nursed by the North
London Nursing Association for the Council at a cost of £27 14s. 9d. In 1935
14 cases were nursed at the cost of £10 8s. Od.