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47
All cases of ophthalmia neonatorum notified are visited in their homes and if
treatment cannot be carried out at home both mother and baby are taken into the
Barking Hospital under the care of your Consulting Ophthalmic Surgeon.
Only one of the five notified cases required hospital treatment.
Elsewhere, I have pointed out with what satisfaction I have been able to note
over many years the improvement in the treatment of infantile paralysis. I cannot
but help feeling equally happy over the way in which ophthalmia neonatorum as a
disabling disease is being overcome.
Two generations ago this eye affection was frequently so severe that it led to
much impairment of vision and in many cases to blindness. It is a long time ago
that I knew of a case of blindness due to this eye disease in the newly born, and
it is a rare occurrence for one to be able to say that after treatment vision has been
impaired. This improvement is largely due to improved technique in midwifery.
(k) Illegitimate Children.—Special attention is paid by the Health Visitors to
all illegitimate children.
Eighteen illegitimate children were born during the year, and one died.
(1) Tonsils and Adenoids.—I have reported at length upon this matter in
previous years. I have nothing to add.

(n) Ophthalmic Clinic.—On pages 59—60 will be found the Report of your
Consulting Ophthalmic Surgeon upon the work of the Ophthalmic Clinics during
the year.
The inauguration of a squint training clinic has been much appreciated, the
numbers are increasing and the results obtained have proved the benefit of such a
service. I would refer you to the statistics upon the work of this clinic on page
60.