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28 OPHTHALMIA NEONATORUM.
OPHTHALMIA NEONATORUM.
During 1912, the first complete year of notification, 31 cases of this disease were reported,
equal to 11.17 per 1,000 births registered in the Borough. There was also one known case which
was not notified. Of the notified cases 14 were in male infants (equal to 9.84 per 1,000 male
births) and 17 in female (or 12 57 per 1,000 female births), showing a slightly heavier incidence
on the latter sex. The cases reported in the four quarters of the year were 9, 7, 9, and 0, so that
there is not much evidence of any seasonal variation in incidence. The 31 infants included 9
illegitimate, the incidence on that class being 5.7 per 1,000 of such births, as compared with 8 4
among legitimate children.
The cases reported from the individual Wards were: Queen.s Park, 2; Harrow Road, 5;
Maida Vale, 3; Westbourne, 10 (including 5 in the Workhouse and 1 in the Lock Hospital)
Church, 8; Lancaster Gate, West and East, 0; and Hyde Park, 3.
Gonorrhæal infection was definitely diagnosed in 7 cases (6 in illegitimate children) and
suspected in 4 others (1 illegitimate). The births of 22 of the 31 infants had been conducted by
midwives, the others by medical practitioners.
Gonorrheal Cases (6)—The onset of the disease was noted as—on day of birth 1 case, the day
after birth 4 cases, and on the fifth and sixth day 1 case each. Two of the patients were treated
at hospitals, and the other 5 by the Medical Superintendent of the Infirmary. Seven of the
children recovered without damage to the eyes, 2 died of intercurrent disorders, and 2 had slight
(superficial) damage to the eyes on discharge from the Infirmary.
Doubtful Gonorrhceal Cases (4).—The attacks began on the first, fourth, fifth, and eighth days
of life (1 each). Three of the patients were treated at hospitals, and the fourth by a private
practitioner. One child removed from the Borough before recovery, the others all recovered
with the eyes apparently uninjured.
Non-gonorrhceal Cases (22)—The dates of incidence of the disease showed a wider range than
in either of the foregoing groups. In 4 cases the eye(s) was (were) affected on the day of birth;
in 9 at dates between the second and eighth day after birth, and in 4 during the second week of
life, the longest interval being 12 days from birth. In 3 instances no note was made of the date
of onset. Ten of the children were treated at hospitals, 4 entirely by private practitioners, 4 at the
beginning by private practitioners and later at hospital, while in 2 no note was made on the matter.
Two children left the Borough before recovery, the remainder made good recoveries without damage.

* Including " gone away," " false addresses," &c. † Provisional return only.