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Fifteen deaths were attributed to measles, 4 of which occurred among children under
the age of 1 year, 6 among children between the ages of 1 and 2 years, 4 among children
between the ages of 2 and 5 years, and 1 among children over 5 years of age.
The Women Sanitary Inspectors visit cases of measles with few exceptions and arrange,
where necessary, for the attendance of the District Nurses.
The cases requiring nursing assistance during the year numbered 87 under 5 j'ears of
age and 10 over 5 years of age. The number of visits paid by the nurses was 880 and 81 to
each group respectively.
One hundred and twenty-eight cases received treatment in hospital.
GERMAN MEASLES.
This harmless, but infectious disease, is notifiable in Paddington; 58 cases were notified
in 1931, as compared with 86 in 1930, 1,163 in 1929, 109 in 1928 and 78 in 1927. Six
patients received treatment in hospital.
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
±o the disease.
Eighteen notifications relating to cases of purulent eye-discharge of the new-born were
Teceived during 1931. Of the 18 patients 17 recovered without any impairment of vision.
In the remaining case the sight of one eye was affected.
As soon as a case of this disease is notified, intensive efforts are made by the Council's
jiaff 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 discharge three 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 the onset of the more severe form
of the disease.
During 1931, 6 cases were referred to the District Nursing Association, 89 visits being
paid.
Eleven cases of ophthalmia of the new-born were treated in hospitals as in-patients.
PUERPERAL FEVER.
There were 8 cases of puerperal fever notified during 1931, 7 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 London County Council
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 nursmg staffs
provided. The Council 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 deaths from the disease were recorded during the year.