London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
City of Westminster 1936
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Westminster, City of]
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66
Ophthalmia, neonatorum.—Eleven cases were notified during the year.
There were also 5 instances of watery discharge from the eyes which were
brought to the notice of the health visitors. All cases of ophthalmia
neonatorum are visited as soon as possible after notification in order
to see that adequate treatment is being provided. Treatment for affections
of the eyes was carried out by the district nurses in 32 cases, 425
visits being paid. Ophthalmia neonatorum has been notifiable since
1911. The percentage of mild (non-purulent) and notified (purulent)
cases in relation to births from the year 1927 is as follows:—
Table LVIII.—Ophthalmia Neonatorum and Inflammation of the Eyes.
| Cases. | Rate per 100 births for both classes of eases. | |
|---|---|---|
| 1927 | 14 | 1.9 |
| 1928 | 7 | 1.2 |
| 1929 | 11 | 1.9 |
| 1930 | 16 | 2.2 |
| 1931 | 20 | 1.6 |
| 1932 | 27 | 2.3 |
| 1933 | 12 | 1.1 |
| 1934 | 11 | 0.94 |
| 1935 | 8 | 0.76 |
| 1936 | 16 | 1.5 |
With regard to the incidence of venereal disease the following table
shows the annual death-rates of infants per 1,000 births, certified to have
died from syphilis since 1926: previous to this the figures correspond to
quinquennia. No infant died from syphilis in 1936.
Table LIX.—Deaths from Syphilis.
| 1911-15 | 2.4 | 1930 | 2.1 |
| 1916-20 | 4.95 | 1931 | 1.6 |
| 1921-25 | 1.7 | 1932 | 1.7 |
| 1926 | 0.62 | 1933 | 3.6 |
| 1927 | 2.8 | 1934 | 1.71 |
| 1928 | 0.72 | 1935 | — |
| 1929 | 0.73 | 1936 | — |