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17
It will be seen that a measles epidemic prevailed in the spring of the year. This
epidemic was at its height during the fourth month of the year. The last measles epidemic
reached its zenith in the first month of 1926, about two years and three months previously.
This is what one expects with measles, which recurs at intervals of about two years.
No less than 71 deaths were attributable directly to measles or its complications. Of
these deaths 14 were in children under the age of 1 year, 28 were in children between the ages
of 1 and 2 years, 24 between the ages of 2 and 5 years, and 5 in children between the ages
of 5 and 15 years.
It is probable that a few other deaths which occurred during the year were indirectly
due to debilitated conditions arising after measles.
The prevalence of measles and the serious mortality received the careful attention of the
Public Health Committee of the Council, a sub-committee being appointed to deal with the
matter. Every avenue of approach to the disease was explored and the conclusion arrived
at was that in Paddington everything possible was being done to prevent and combat the
disease. It was decided to inform the Ministry of Health that in the opinion of the Council
further research work as to the causation of measles is necessary.
The women Sanitary Inspectors visit cases of measles with few exceptions and arrange,
where necessary, for the attendance of the District Nurses. During 1928 the Inspectors'
visits totalled 3,388.
The number of cases requiring nursing assistance was large during the year, comprising
198 cases under 5 years of age and 30 cases over 5 years of age. The number of visits paid
by the nurses was 1,813 and 236 to each group respectively.
Much advantage was derived from the ample provision made by the Metropolitan
Asylums Board for institutional accommodation, 348 cases being removed to hospital during
the year.
GERMAN MEASLES.
This harmless, but infectious disease, is notifiable in Paddington; 109 cases were notified
in 1928, as compared with 78 in 1927, 124 in 1926, 375 in 1925 and 458 in 1924.
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.
Twenty-four cases of purulent eye-discharge of the new-born were notified in 1928.
Of these 24 cases 19 recovered without any impairment of vision, 2 died from other causes
and the remaining three cases were untraced.
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 twenty-two 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 1928, 9 cases were referred to the District Nursing Association, 131 visits being
paid.
Nineteen cases of ophthalmia of the new-born were treated in hospitals as in-patients.
PUERPERAL FEVER.
There were 5 cases of puerperal fever notified during 1928, 2 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.
Three women were certified as having died from puerperal fever.