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73
of the regulations framed for the control of Ophthalmia
Neonatorum has, since their inception, proved to be a
most effective Public Health measure.
There were 45 cases in which a medical aid notice
was sent by a midwife to a medical practitioner on
account of some eye condition occurring in a newly born
infant. Of these only 9 were not ified as suffering from
true Ophthalmia.
Discharge from the eye of a newly born infant,
however slight, must be notified to the Medical Officer
of the Local Supervising Authority, who, in the case of
Dagenham, is the County Medical Officer. The present
arrangement is that all such cases are referred to your
Medical Officer of Health who personally examines
each child and, in addition, a report is made by the
Health Visitor of the district concerned; in nearly all
cases the discharge is of a mild catarrhal nature which
readily responds to treatment. In all cases, however,
a medical practitioner is called in and undertakes the
treatment until recovery.
Pemphigus.
During the year, 11 notifications of Pemphigus were
received, five of whom were removed to hospital.
From January to July, three cases only were
notified, the remaining eight cases being notified
between the end of October and the end of November,
two of which proved fatal. The cause was traced to
a child attended by a Doctor who omitted to diagnose
Pemphigus, the midwife in this case was acting as a
maternity nurse. Subsequent investigation proved that
this child was undoubtedly a case of true Pemphigus.
This midwife attended seven other cases, all of whom
contracted the disease.