View report page

15
I understand that cases have gone blind and have not been
notified, and in other severe cases the plea has been that the
the Ophthalmia has not been due to the gonococcus.
I am, Sir,
Your obedient servant,
(Sd.) Feed. Wm. Alexander,
Medical Officer of Health.
The Secretary,
Local Government Board,
Whitehall, S.W.
[Copy.]
Local Government Board,
Whitehall, S.W.
19th December, 1912.
Sir,
I am directed by the Local Government Board to advert to
your letter of the 14th ultimo, with reference to the interpretation
to be placed upon the term ophthalmia neonatorum for the purposes
of the notification of the disease.
In reply, I am to state that the term ophthalmia neonatorum
is not intended to be restricted to cases of purulent ophthalmia of
new-born infants caused by the gonococcus, but should include
cases of purlent eye discharges caused by other organisms, when
these discharges occur during the first few days after birth.