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Twenty-six deaths were attributed to measles, 7 of which occurred among children under
the age of 1 year, 12 among children between the ages of 1 and 2 years, 5 among children
between the ages of 2 and 5 years, and 2 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 120 under 5 years of
age and 17 over 5 years of age. The number of visits paid by the nurses was 1,290 and 154
to each group respectively.
Two hundred and seventy-five cases received treatment in hospital.
GERMAN MEASLES.
This harmless, but infectious disease is notifiable in Paddington; 77 cases were notified
in 1932, as compared with 58 in 1931, 86 in 1930, and 1,163 in 1929. One patient 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 to
the disease.
Twenty-two notifications relating to cases of purulent eye-discharge of the new-born were
received during 1932. Of the 22 patients 19 recovered without any impairment of vision,
1 proceeded to another district on discharge from hospital and 2 died.
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 discharge, four 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 1932, 4 cases were referred to the District Nursing Association, 60 visits being
paid.
Eighteen case of ophthalmia of the new-born were treated in hospitals as in-patients.
PUERPERAL FEVER.
There were 7 cases of puerperal fever notified during 1932, 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 London County Council
are usually sent to the North-Western Hospital, Hampstead, where a special ward is set
aside for these cases and special medical and nursing staffs are provided.
Excellent accommodation is also available at Queen Charlotte's Isolation Hospital,
Hammersmith.
Two deaths from the disease ware recorded during the year.