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9
[1923
A Cinema lecture at the Holy Trinity Hall, Richmond Road, arranged by the West
Islington Welfare Centre, was a great success, there being no vacant seats. A lecture on
"The Sub-conscious Mind," by Dr. Jessie Campbell Maxwell, was given at the North
Islington Welfare Centre, and the Centre was open for inspection.
Dr. Nankivell, Medical Officer of Health for Hornsey, at the invitation of the South
Islington Centre, gave a lecture at 6, Clephane Road, N., on the 9th October, 1923. A
large and appreciative audience listened to a very interesting lecture entitled "Babies of
yesterday and to-morrow."
There is no doubt that education in health matters, that is, on the preventive side,
has made for great improvement in recent years. Not only has this education gone hand
in hand with the improvement in sanitation, but in the most recent times a decided
advancement has been made in reducing the number of deaths among infants and young
children. In this respect, considerable credit is due to the prominence given by the public
press to matters of health, to the work done by voluntary associations, and agencies, and
not by any means least, to the active interest now taken by local authorities, including
Borough Councils, in these matters.
It is not the object of "Health Week" to do more than by lectures, addresses, and
exhibits, to put people on the right lines to help themselves.
OPHTHALMIA NEONATORUM AND OPHTHALMIA.
Ophthalmia Neonatorum is an inflammatory disease with purulent discharge occurring
in the eyes of infants within three weeks of birth.
66 cases of Ophthalmia Neonatorum were notified as against 116 in 1922.
24 cases of Ophthalmia were reported (62 in 1922) by the London County Council.
22 out of the 66 cases of Ophthalmia Neonatorum were attended at birth by midwives.
The cases occurred in the sub-registration districts as follows :
Upper TollLower SouthThe
Tufnell. Holloington. Hollobury. bury. East. Borough
way. way.
Cases notified by Doctor 7 6 10 4 5 11 18 61
Cases notified by Certified
Midwives 1 1 — 1 2 — — 5
Cases reported by L.C.C 3 1 — 1 — 8 11 24
Of the 90 cases investigated, both of the infants' eyes were affected in 67 instances,
whilst in 13 the right eye was involved and in 10 the left.
Treatment.—14 of 66 Ophthalmia Neonatorum cases were admitted to
St. Margaret's Hospital.
19 of 66 Ophthalmia Neonatorum cases were treated at home by private Doctors.
17 cases of inflammatory disease of infants' eyes were nursed by the North London
Nursing Association for the Council at the cost of £22 3s. (In 1922, 63 cases were nursed
at the cost of £53 10s.). As skilled attention decreases the possibility of partial or
complete blindness, the cost incurred was very essential.
Results.—Of the 66 Ophthalmia Neonatorum cases :
63 cases completely clear.
3 cases partial impairment of the right eye.
Deaths. One death was certified as due to Ophthalmia Neonatorum.