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86
Ophthalmia Neonatorum.
Great care is exercised in all cases of doubtful or suspected
and real ophthalmia neonatorum, which is the chief cause of
blindness. During the year 1935, 41 cases were notified as
compared with annual averages of 72.8 and 56.2 for the 10 years
1911-1920 and 1921-1930 respectively. Formerly this disease was
notifiable by midwives as well as by medical practitioners with
the result that many cases were " missed " and precautionary
measures were consequently unable to be taken.
Cases
Notified
Treated
Vision
Unimpaired
Vision
Impaired
Total
Blindness
Deaths
At Home
In Hospital
41 36 5 — — —
Contacts, Suspects, etc.
The Medical Officer of Health was called in consultation by
medical practitioners to see 5 patients in their homes during the
year. This small number compares favourably with the 748 such
patients seen in 1929 at the time of the smallpox epidemic.
Municipal Bacteriological Laboratory.
The subjoined table shows in some detail the nature of the
work carried out at the laboratory, which is equipped for practically
all routine and special examinations except those which entail
the use of living animals. All examinations of samples submitted
are carried out free of charge and the necessary outfits for taking
the specimens are also supplied free on demand as required.
Among the miscellaneous samples are specimens of various
body fluids, pathogenic discharges, etc., as well as samples of
food suspected of containing various food poisoning organisms.