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13
NEW-BORN INFANTS AND OPHTHALMIA.
If the Baby's eyelids become red or swollen, or the eye.
begins to run with matter within the first fortnight of birth, it is
to be seen by a Doctor without a moment's delay. The disease,
called Ophthalmia, is very dangerous, and if not treated may
destroy the sight of both eyes.
For those patients requiring hospital treatment, and
hospital treatment is essential in all cases that cannot employ
skilled medical supervision and efficient nursing, it is of
importance that the mother and child should not be separated.
Therefore provision for the admission into hospital of the
mother as well as the infant must be made.
In Beckenham it appears to me that there are two Institutions
that could be made available for such a purpose should
the occasion arise, viz.:—The Cottage Hospital or a special
ward at the Infectious Diseases Hospital. To prevent blindness
the aims must be, early recognition, followed by prompt
and efficient treatment. The Notification of Births Act affords
the ideal channel by which early recognition of Ophthalmia
Neonatorum can be obtained-the machinery is at hand for
the purpose.
I do not know if the Council possess powers to make a
slight but necessary addition, or should they not possess them,
is the necessary powers can be obtained to enable them to make
the Notification of Ophthalmia Neonatorum compulsory. But
whether or no, I have no doubt that if such powers could be
exercised it would be to the advantage of the Public Health.
I urge the Council to take the necessary steps to obtain such
powers forthwith.
In my opinion the Public Health Department is the best
machinery for obtaining early information of cases of Ophthalmia
Neonatorum and also for making the necessary
arrangements for its prompt treatment and isolation, and I
therefore bring these matters to your notice for your consideration
and deliberation.