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
Marylebone 1919
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Marylebone, Metropolitan Borough]
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55
Ophthalmia Neonatorum.
This disease—inflammation of the eyes in newl-born children—made notifiable
by order of the London County Council in 1911, continued to be so during the whole
of 1919. The total number of cases notified was 22, as against 28 in 1918. Visits
were paid to all notified cases by the Health Visitors and in six cases arrangements
were made for one of the Nuises of the Paddington and Marylebone Nursing
Association to attend and apply treatment, and in this connection 150 visits were
made. In bad cases removal to hospital is carried out, special arrangements having
been provided at St. Margaret's Hospital for receiving and dealing with children
suffering from this condition. Out of the 23 cases, as is shown in the tabular
statement, with the exception of two all recovered completely. Of the two serious
cases one died, the sight having been totally destroyed by the violence of the infection
within a few weeks of birth. In the case of the other the blindness in one eye was
complete and in the other the sight was so much damaged that there remained only
sensitiveness to light.
OPHTHALMIA NEONATORUM.
| DATE NOTIFIED | NUMBER OF CASE | ONE OR BOTH EYES PERMANENTLY INJURED— IF SO, TO WHAT EXTENT? |
|---|---|---|
| 9.1.19 | 1 | Removed to Infirmary, Kensington |
| 17.1.19 | 2 | Both perforated, blind. Died 18.2.19 |
| 14.3.19 | 3 | Very slight. Cured |
| 26.3.19 | 4 | Only one eye. Quite cured |
| 7.4.19 | 5 | Very slight. Cured |
| 12.6.19 | 6 | Both eyes. Cured |
| 16.6.19 | 7 | Removed to Infirmary, Kensington |
| 11.7.19 | 8 | Very slight, one eye. Cured |
| 11.7.19 | 9 | Very slight, both eyes. Cured |
| 20.8.19 | 10 | Slight, both eyes. Cured |
| 2.9.19 | 11 | Very slight, both eyes. Cured |
| 24.10.19 | 12 | Very slight, only one eye. Cured |
| 25.10.19 | 13 | Acute, both eyes. Cured. Died Feb. 1920 |
| 31.10.19 | 14 | Acute, both eyes. Cured |
| 14.11.19 | 15 | Acute, both eyes. Said to be cured, but appear weak and watery |
| 26.11.19 | 16 | Acute, both eyes. Cured |
| 27.11.19 | 17 | One eye. Cured |
| 6.12.19 | 18 | Both eyes, acute. Cured. Died with whooping cough and convulsions, 9.1.20 |
| 10.12.19 | 19 | Both eyes, acute. Practically cured |
| 15.12.19 | 20 | One eye, slight. Cured |
| 18.12.19 | 21 | Slight in one eye. Cured |
| 22.12.19 | 22 | Acute, both eyes. Cured |
| 15.7.19 | 23 | Right eye totally blind, left slightly sensitive to light; |
| (Removal slip, St. Margaret's only) | latter to be operated on later |
The circumstances in this case were particularly sad on account of the fact that
no notification having been made to the Medical Officer of Health that there was
ophthalmia, a few days delay occurred before the eyes were brought fully under
treatment. The child was eventually removed to hospital, but unfortunately, as
already stated, it was found impossible to save the sight.