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Ophthalmia Neonatorum.
Seven cases were notified during the year. Two infants
were removed to St. Margaret's Hospital, one to St. Mary's
Hospital, one to the Royal London Ophthalmic Hospital, one to
the Middlesex Hospital and two were nursed at home. In the
five cases which can now be traced the vision was unimpaired—
two cases having removed from the district.
Anterior Poliomyelitis.
Eight cases occurred in the 12 months—7 being removed
to hospital. Some anxiety was caused by two cases quickly
following one another on the opposite sides of the same street,
while in the same district another case occurred, although it
was impossible definitely to prove contact with the first two
cases and the third.
Although, as the name suggests, this disease is more common
amongst children, it may occur in adults.
The disease has a well marked seasonal prevalence in the
Autumn, but isolated cases, and small outbreaks may occur in
the winter time.
The first symptoms may be headache, rise of temperature.,
sore throat, tonsillitis or a catarrhal cold. Sometimes the patient
may have seemed to become quite well again and, perhaps, has
been allowed to go about, but some muscle weakness may then
show itself.
If there be any such cases in the neighbourhood the family
doctor should always be called to see any suspicious illness
however simple it may appear.
The cases require skilled nursing and for this reason alone
are generally best admitted to hospital.
PRECAUTIONS.
The disease is an infectious one, and nose and throat
secretions, urine and the excreta may spread it. Appropriate
disinfecting treatment of clothing, handkerchiefs, eating and
drinking utensils should be carried out.
The patient should be isolated for about four weeks and
children in the home must remain away from school for three
weeks after isolation of the patient.
Windows and doors of the home should be kept freely open
to the sun and fresh air.
While complete restriction need not be placed on adult
members of the household, provided they remain well, the family
should avoid gatherings of people, and visitors to the house
should be discouraged for two or three weeks. The children
should play in the open in a space away from other children.
The family should gargle with a weak solution of permanganate
of potash.
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