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17
OPHTHALMIA NEONATORUM.
This disease is notifiable in London under section 55 of the Public Health (London) Act,
1891, the London County Council having by resolution in 1911 made this section applicable
to the disease.
Fifteen cases of purulent eye-discharge of the new-born were notified in 1927.
In no instance was there any permanent impairment of vision, so far as could
be ascertained.
As soon as a case of this disease is notified, intensive efforts are made by the Council's
staff to ensure that proper treatment is carried out. Daily visits are paid and private or
charitable medical treatment is invariably enforced. Where necessary the infant and its
mother are removed to a hospital, provision of this accommodation being ample. All necessary
nursing attention is given by home visiting on the part of the Paddington and St. Marylebone
District Nursing Association.
In addition to true purulent discharges some eleven cases of slight discharge from the
eyes of infants reported by midwives to the London County Council were referred to this
Department and received attention, no doubt preventing in a few instances the onset of the
more severe form of the disease.
During 1927, 10 cases were referred to the District Nursing Association, 401 visits being
paid.
Eight cases of ophthalmia of the new-born were treated in hospitals as in-patients.
PUERPERAL FEVER.
There were 7 cases of puerperal fever notified during 1927, all of which were removed to or
nursed in a hospital. There is no difficulty in obtaining institutional treatment for women
suffering from this disease. Cases of puerperal fever referred to the Metropolitan Asylums
Board are concentrated as far as practicable in three institutions, namely, the Eastern Hospital,
Homerton, the North-Western Hospital, Hampstead, and the South-Western Hospital, Stockwell,
where special wards are set aside for these cases and special medical and nursing staffs
provided. The Board have also provided an obstetric consultant at these three institutions.
Paddington mothers go, as a rule, to the North-Western Hospital, Hampstead, which is
within easy reach of the Borough.
Four women were certified as having died from puerperal fever.
PUERPERAL PYREXIA.
This condition is defined as:—
"Any febrile condition (other than a condition which is required to be notified as
puerperal fever) occurring in a woman within 21 days after childbirth or miscarriage
in which a temperature of 100'4 degrees Fahrenheit, or more, has been sustained during
a period of 24 hours or has recurred during that period."
The febrile condition referred to in the above definition may be due to any cause, and it
may be to some cause quite independent of the puerperal condition. It may, however, be
the precursor of the more serious condition known as puerperal fever, and it is with this in
view that the numerous conditions comprised under the term puerperal pyrexia are made
notifiable.
During the year the Council retained the services of Mr. Aleck W. Bourne, F.R.C.S.
(England), Obstetric Surgeon to Out-patients, St. Mary's Hospital, to act in a consultative
capacity, for cases of puerperal pyrexia, but no request for his assistance was made to the
Council during the year.
During the year 34 cases of puerperal pyrexia were notified, 26 of which occurred within
or were removed to institutions.
ERYSIPELAS.
Ninety cases were notified, 36 of which occurred within or were removed to hospitals.