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51
OPHTHALMIA NEONATORUM.
Fifty-one cases were notified. This equals an attack rate of ll-7 per 1,000 births.
Forty-eight of these were notified by medical practitioners, one by a midwife, and two bv
both.
Twenty-eight cases were regarded as slight, 18 as of moderate severity, five were grave,
of which one lost the sight of an eye. Six of the cases occurred in illegitimate children.

Sixteen cases were removed to hospital, nine of these being admitted to St. Margaret's
Hospital, Leighton Road, Kentish Town. This Institution, managed by the Metropolitan
Asylums Board, is reserved for cases of this disease. The very excellent practice is also
adopted of admitting the mother as well as the baby, so that the natural nutrition of the child
may be continued.
Of the other cases, 35 were treated at home, with the help of a visiting nurse—provided
by the Council—in 23 cases.
ENCEPHALITIS LETIIARGICA.
Commonly described as " Sleepy Sickness."
Five cases of this disease were notified during the year, and one other case came to
knowledge from the death returns, but had not been notified. Of the five notified cases, two,
on further investigation, were found not to be suffering from the disease. There were, therefore,
four definite cases of this illness during the year, and three of these proved fatal.
Particulars relating to the cases are as follows: —
A. C., female, aged 45. The initial symptoms were headache, drowsiness, and retention
of the urine. Ptosis; no fever. Later there was weakness in the limbs, but no definite
paralysis. The lethargy increased, and patient died on January lltli, 1923, the day after
admission to hospital. Blood tests were negative, and post-mortem examination was refused.
M. M., male, aged 29. Onset of illness January 27th. Admitted to hospital on
February 7th. The chief symptoms were fever, lasting three weeks; ptosis, delirium,
retention of urine and lethargy. Later there was wasting of the muscles of the limbs, with
rigidity and bi-lateral facial paralysis. The lethargy increased and the patient died on
May 9th, having also suffered for three days previously from septic broncho pneumonia. The
Wassermann test in both blood and cerebro spinal fluid was negative. (In 1922 the patient
had suffered from iritis, and the Wassermann test at this time was positive. He was treated
then at Moorfields Hospital.)
F. P., female, aged 54. Few particulars could be obtained in this case. The onset of
the illness was May 1st, with headache, fever, and backache. Later the patient became
delirious and drowsy. The case was notified on May 4th, and removal to hospital was
requested, but when the ambulance arrived the patient was dead.