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39
OPHTHALMIA NEONATORUM.
The number of cases of this disease notified in 1939 was 5. Four cases were
treated at home and one in hospital. Vision was unimpaired in four cases. In the
remaining instance the child left the district.
FOOD POISONING.
There were no notifications of food poisoning during 1939.
RHEUMATISM AND ARTHRITIS.
On the 7th January, 1939, a new department was opened at the Hospital of
St. John and St. Elizabeth, No. 60, Grove End Road, for the reception of women
suffering from rheumatism and arthritis, and the Council decided to contribute
towards the cost of carrying on the work on condition that accommodation was made
available for St. Marylebone patients recommended for admission by their medical
attendant. Up to the 31st August, 1939, when the unit closed down, one woman
had been received into the hospital for treatment.
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 Acts, 1920 and 1938.
Under an arrangement with the London Comity Council the borough council
has undertaken that provision for blind children up to the age of five years shall be
made by the child welfare centres, and that home visiting in such cases shall 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.
Only in very exceptional circumstances, however, is a blind child removed from
its own home. No case came to the knowledge of the Department during 1939.
TUBERCULOSIS.
Pulmonary Tuberculosis and the Milk Trade.
Provision is made in the Public Health (Prevention of Tuberculosis) Regulations,
1925, designed to secure that no person suffering from respiratory tuberculosis
who is in an infectious condition shall be engaged in any form of dairy work involving
the milking of cows, the treatment of milk or the handling of milk containers.
During the year no case occurred which called for attention under the
regulations.
Compulsory Removal of Tuberculous Patients to Hospital.
No action was required during 1939 under section 62 of the Public Health
Act, 1925, which relates to the compulsory removal to hospital of persons suffering
from tuberculosis.
Tuberculosis: New Cases and Mortality.
Table 25, prepared at the request of the Ministry of Health, contains information
with regard to age and sex distribution of all forms of tuberculosis.