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31
With reference thereto, I would point out that notification to
the Council of all cases of this disease occurring in the County of
London in the practice of certified midwives is already required by
the rules made by the Central Midwives Board under the provisions
of the Midwives Act. Inquiry into all cases so notified is conducted
by the inspectors under the Midwives Act, who are qualified
medical practitioners, but the Council has no authority to incur
expenditure for the medical treatment of infants suffering from
ophthalmia.
At the present time a medical practitioner is not required to
report the occurrence of a case of ophthalmia in his practice to the
Council of the County or of the Metropolitan Borough; but, in
order that more complete information as to the occurience of this
disease in the County of London may be obtainable, the Council
has under consideration the question of making an order under
Section 56 of the Public Health (London) Act, 1891, declaring
ophthalmia neonatorum to be a notifiable infectious disease within
the whole of the County. Should this order be made and approved
by the Local Government Board, notification of the occurrence of
any cases of the disease would be made to the Council of the
borough in which the disease occurred, certified midwives being
required also to give notice to the Council.
I am, Sir,
Your obedient servant,
(Signed) G. L. GOMME,
Clerk of the Council.
London County Council.
County Hall, Spring Gardens,
S.W.
26th July, 1910.
Sir,
With reference to your letter of the 23rd instant, I have to
inform you that, in all cases in which a midwife gives notice to
the Council that a child, upon whom she has been in attendance at
birth, is suffering from inflammation of the eyes, the infant is
immediately visited by one of the Council's inspectors under the
Midwives Act, with the object of ensuring that steps are taken to
secure the proper treatment of the child.
In these circumstances, the Council would suggest that the
Medical Officer of Health of the Metropolitan Borough of Poplar