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It should he noted that, owing to the operation of
the Public Health Act, 1936, the number of notified cases
of Puerperal Fever relates to the first 39 weeks of the year
only. Cases occurring afterwards are classed with Puerperal
Pyrexia and included accordingly.
Ophthalmia Neonatorum.
Two cases were notified during the year. One was
mild and nursed at home, the other severe and admitted
through the Council's scheme to St. Margaret's L.C.C.
Hospital. Both did well and recovered without any
injury to the eyes.
Measles and Whooping Cough.
These diseases are not notifiable in this area, but
cases among school children are notified to me by the
Head Teachers, and the homes are visited by the Health
Visitors to ascertain if there are any children under five
in the homes. Inquiries are made as to whether the
younger children have had or now have the disease. A
report is made, also, on the adequacy of the isolation and
nursing of the case if there is 110 doctor in attendance.
By this method it is impressed upon the parents that these
diseases are dangerous to children under five and that
special care is required.
1937 was the non-epidemic year for measles, and
only four cases were notified from the schools. There
were 110 deaths.
I11 preparation for the epidemic year of 1938. the
Council agreed to a scheme for the collection of human
adult measles serum, and issue for use, by general practitioners,
for prevention and alleviation of cases of
measles, and to the principle of providing Hospital accommodation
for cases of measles (and whooping cough),
which could not be nursed at home owing to home
difficulties or complications. The completion in the
autumn of the cubicle blocks at Bow Arrow Hospital
provided the necessary bed accommodation.
The nursing associations of the district were also
approached to provide home nursing for necessitous cases
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