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20
GERMAN MEASLES.
As is the case with measles this disease is no longer notifiable in Paddington. In the course of
the year 56 cases came to the knowledge of the Department through various sources of information.
Ten 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 to the disease.
Eleven notifications relating to cases of purulent eye-discharge of the new-born were received
during 1935. All of the patients recovered without any impairment of vision.
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, 2 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 1935, 2 cases were referred to the District Nursing Association, 70 visits being paid.
Nine cases of ophthalmia of the new-born were treated in hospitals as in-patients.
PUERPERAL FEVER.
There were 14 cases of puerperal fever notified during 1935, 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.
Three deaths from the disease were recorded during the year.
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 27 cases of puerperal pyrexia were notified, 26 of which occurred within or
were removed to institutions.
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 fever and puerperal pyrexia. No request for his assistance was made to the Council
during the year.
ERYSIPELAS.
Fifty cases were notified, 31 of which occurred within or were removed to hospitals.
ACUTE POLIO-MYELITIS.
Two cases of this disease, otherwise known as Infantile Paralysis, were notified, one of which
received treatment in hospital. Owing to the serious after-effects, such as deformities, which result from
this disease, much care is taken to keep in touch with all cases previously notified. Recent experience
tends to show that most of the cases notified by doctors receive all the necessary remedial treatment.
It is evident that the possibility of preventing the onset of serious deformities is now realised by
parents and doctors more than formerly.
ACUTE POLIO-ENCEPHALITIS.
No case of this disease, somewhat similar in its nature to the last-mentioned, was notified.