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I did not consider verification of the diagnosis necessary as
the histories of the symptoms were fairly typical and paralysis
was present in all the cases. However, should bacteriological
confirmation have been indicated specimens of spinal fluid, etc.,
could have been sent to Dr. Thresh, with whom the Council have
an arrangement for such work.
OPHTHALMIA NEONATORUM.
Under Section 130, Public Health Act, 1875, the Local
Government Board has made Regulations adding Ophthalmia
Neonatorum to the list of diseases compulsorily notifiable. These
Regulations, which came into force on 1st April, 1914, compel
Medical Practitioners and Midwives attending maternity cases to
notify to the Medical Officer of Health all cases of Ophthalmia
Neonatorum which commence in the babies within 21 days from
the date of their birth. The object of this Order is to diminish
the incidence of blindness among children, which is mainly due
to this disease.
15 such cases were notified in Leyton by Medical Practitioners
and 1 other by a midwife. All were visited and revisited
to observe the progress of the disease and to advise
medical treatment until cure was effected. At the end of the
year all the cases had cleared up satisfactorily. It may be added
that when first visited, most were found to be comparatively mild.
TUBERCULOSIS.
141 deaths occurred from all forms of Tuberculosis, which
represents a death-rate of T07 per 1,000 of the population. The
number of deaths from Pulmonary Tuberculosis was 111, and the
death-rate per 1,000 of the population, .8; that of London
being 1.39.
Under the " Tuberculosis Regulations, 1912," notifications
of 288 cases of Pulmonary Tuberculosis and 100 of other forms
of Tuberculosis have been received during the year.