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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
Islington 1937
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Islington Borough]
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97 1937
BLIND PERSONS' ACT, 1920.
Circular No. 1621 on the "Prevention of Blindness," issued by the Ministry of
Health on the 6th August, 1937, drew the attention of local authorities to the
necessity for making adequate arrangements for assisting in the prevention of
blindness and for the treatment of persons suffering from any disease or injury to
the eyes. The report of the Standing Committee on the Prevention of Blindness
emphasised that expert examination of the fundus of the eye is called for in cases
of failure of reading sight during pregnancy, and the presence of albuminuria may
indicate serious retinal changes. Prophylactic Drugs for newly born infants are not
insisted upon as a routine measure, but if used, then a 1 per cent, solution of silver
nitrate is recommended. Ophthalmia Neonatorum in the view of the Committee
is best treated in hospital and the ideal arrangement is to admit both mother and
child to the hospital.
The following table gives the number of "Totally Blind" and "Partially Blind" children under 5 years of age coming to the knowledge of the Medical Officer of Health, and under supervision either of the Health Visitors or Voluntary Welfare Centres in the Borough:—
| Totally Blind. | Partially Blind. | |
|---|---|---|
| No. of cases at the end of year 1936 | 3 | 12 |
| No. of cases coming to the knowledge of M.O.H. during the year 1937 | 0 | 4 |
| No. of cases which left during the year 1937 | *1 | †2 |
| No. of cases under supervision at the end of the year 1937 | 2 | 14 |
*Died. † Reached 5 years of age.
PREVENTION OF DEAFNESS.
Circular 1337a, Ministry of Health, dated 22nd May, 1933, on "Prevention of
Deafness."
The following gives an analysis of the cases under this heading which have come
to the knowledge of the Medical Officer of Health during the year, and the deaths
in which Ear affection was mentioned as a contributory cause:—
Number of cases of Discharging Ear after Scarlet Fever 15
,, . ,, ,, Diphtheria 10
„ ,, ,, Scarlet Fever and Diphtheria 1
Other cases visited by Health Visitors and Centres 125
Number of above patients who died 10
The causes of death in these cases were:—
(i) Acute Gastro Enteritis, Septicaemia, Broncho Pneumonia, Bilateral Otitis
Media, Toxic Hepatitis; (ii) Diarrhoea and Vomiting, Broncho Pneumonia and
Otitis Media, P.M.; (iii) Toxic Myocarditis, Laryngeal Diphtheria, Lobar Pneumonia,
Double Suppurative Mastoiditis; (iv) Streptococcal Meningitis, Mastoiditis!
Appendix Abscess, Peritonitis; (v) Pyaemia, Mastoiditis, Peritonitis, Whooping
Cough, P.M.; (vi) Acute Bronchitis, Acute Middle Ear Disease, P.M.; (vii) GastroEnteri'tis,
Otitis Media; (viii) Acute Bronchitis, Broncho-Pneumonia, Acute Middle
Ear Disease, Acute Meningitis; (ix) Heart Failure, Pneumonia, Diarrhoea and
Vomiting, Otitis Media; (x) Toxaemia, Bilateral Otitis Media, P.M,