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 1937
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Marylebone, Metropolitan Borough]
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70
OPHTHALMIA NEONATORUM.
The total number of cases of this disease notified in 1937 was 10, and information
with regard to these is given in Table 39. Seven cases were notified in 1936. Visits
were paid to notified cases by the health visitors, and where necessary arrangements
were made for a nurse from the Paddington and St. Marylebone District Nursing
Association to attend and apply treatment. 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.
| Notified. | Cases Treated. | Vision Unimpaired. | Vision Impaired. | Total Blindness. | Deaths. | Removed, etc. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| At Home. | At Hospital. | ||||||
| — | — | ||||||
INFLUENZA.
This disease was rather more prevalent than in 1936, though correct information
as to the number of cases was, of course, unobtainable. The district nurses
paid 233 visits to 28 cases. The deaths certified as due to influenza numbered 44
as against 14 in the previous year.
PNEUMONIA.
Notifications of this disease numbered 61. The services of the nurses were
requisitioned in a large number of cases. The number of deaths certified as due to
all forms of this disease was 89.
FOOD POISONING.
Seven notifications of food poisoning or suspected food poisoning were received
during the year, six of these relating to an outbreak of acute intestinal disturbance
among persons who had partaken of food at a private school function. Various
foodstuffs came under suspicion, but no definite evidence as to the responsibility of
these articles was obtainable. All those affected quickly recovered.
PREVENTION OF BLINDNESS.
No action was taken under section 66 of the Public Health Act, 1925, the
London County Council undertaking the welfare of blind persons in the County of
London by means of their scheme formulated under the Blind Persons Act, 1920,
and approved by the Minister of Health.
The Borough Council has arranged with the London County Council for
provision for blind children up to the age of five years to be made by the child
welfare centres, and for home visiting in such cases to be carried out by the
health visitors. Where the home conditions are unsuitable for a blind child, arrangements
are made for its reception into an approved institution on the understanding
that a blind child should not, save in very exceptional circumstances, be removed
from its own home. No case came to the knowledge of the Department during 1937.