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17
OPHTHALMIA NEONATORUM.
The certificates received numbered 53, relating to 45 cases, a marked decrease on
the figures for 1924. There were besides some 75 other cases of inflamed eyes in
infants which were brought to our notice through the Medical Officer of Health,
London County Council, but not formally notified. The usual supervision was
exercised through the Health Visitors for ensuring proper treatment. Of the cases
certified two were of a severe type. All recovered without impairment of vision.
Two of the infants died whilst suffering from the disease. Most of the cases
received hospital treatment at the Moorfields Eye Hospital, the Queen's Hospital
for Children, and the City of London Maternity Hospital. Four of the patients
were removed to hospital for treatment therein, three of them to St. Margaret's
Hospital, an institution of the Metropolitan Asylums Board provided especially for
the treatment of this disease, mothers as well as their infants being admitted when
necessary. Six of the cases were dealt with under nurses from the Local District
Nursing Association, who made an average of 24 visits a case.
The certified cases were at the rate of 17.1 per 1,000 births, as compared with
8.6 for London as a whole. The figure for Shoreditch shows a marked reduction on
that for 1924, but it remains still twice as heavy as that for the Metropolis.
EPIDEMIC CEREBRO-SPINAL MENINGITIS.
Two cases were certified, one in a female infant three months old, who fell ill
about February 5th with vomiting and diarrhoea, and was admitted to the Queen's
Hospital on February 9th, where it died on the 16th,'the case being notified the
following day. There was no post-mortem examination. The second case was a
little boy a year old. He was taken ill about March 9th, when he was admitted to
the Queen's Hospital. He was discharged on the 19th, and re-admitted on the 26th.
The case was certified on April 21st, and terminated fatally a few days later.
ACUTE ANTERIOR POLIOMYELITIS.
The following cases of the above disease, which is more generally known as
infantile paralysis, came under observation during the year :—
(1) A schoolgirl, aged 13 years, of 106, S-Street, was taken ill about September
22nd, with a " cold," sneezing and a "sore-throat" being noted. Subsequently
paralysis of the right leg was noticed. The case was certified on October 9th, about
17 days after the onset of symptoms. The sanitary condition of the house, which
was occupied by one family, was satisfactory, and there was nothing amiss as regards
the health of the other inmates. The case was at home when certified.
(2) A little boy, aged nearly three years, of 93, B-Street, was taken ill with
vomiting and diarrhoea about December 4th. He was admitted to St. Leonard's
Hospital on 9th, when paralysis of the right leg was noticed. The sanitary condition
°f the house was unsatisfactory, and the health of the patient's family had not been
good prior to the occurrence of the case.