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(i) Ophthalmia Neonatorum.—During 1938 five cases
of ophthalmia neonatorum were notified and all of these
cases recovered with unimpaired vision. Three cases
were treated at home and two were admitted to the
Barking Hospital.
(j) Illegitimate Children.—Special attention is paid
by the Health Visitors to all illegitimate children.
Twenty-seven illegitimate children were born during
the year, and two died.
(k) Tonsils and Adenoids, etc.—In another part of this
Report I have recorded that during the year an Ear,
Nose and Throat Clinic was commenced under the
direction of Mr. C. R. Sandiford, F.R.C.S. This
clinic saves parents and children from attending the
Out-Patients Department of Queen Mary's Hospital
and other Hospitals for specialist advice upon ear, nose
and throat conditions.
During the year under review you have considered
the question of operative treatment for tonsils and
adenoids being carried out at the Barking Hospital.
This would be possible when the numbers in the Hospital
were such as to leave one block completely available
for such cases, e.g., during the summer months.
You have decided to proceed with this scheme.
The advantage of children being admitted to the
Barking Hospital for operative treatment of ear, nose
and throat conditions is great—journeys by ambulance
would be obviated and the children could be admitted
to hospital prior to the operation taking place, and so
allow them to become settled down, and it would also
be possible for them to be kept in the hospital after the
operation. In the past, I have repeatedly urged that
hospitalisation is an essential part of operative treatment
for ear, nose and throat conditions.