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diagnosis of the condition from which the patient is found to be suffering, and
from replies received it is possible to group these cases as follows:—
Puerperal Fever, four cases; Puerperal Supra;mia, seven; Pyrexia
due to retained membranes, three; Puerperal endometritis, one; localized
vaginal sepsis, one; local uterine infection, two; local uterine infection
and mastitis, one; kinking of cercival canal, one; perineal tear,
localized infection of anairobic, streptococci bacillus coli and
diphtheroids, and two weeks later breast abscess, one; pyelitis of B. coli
type, two; pyrexia of unknown origin, which cleared up within seven
days, one; mastitis, one; bronchitis following cjeserian section for obstructed
labour, one; abscess of breast, one; acute pleurisy, one; lacerated
perineum, one.
Twenty-five of these cases were removed to hospital. Three cases died.
Consultations with the specialists referred to above were held in two instances.
Ophthalmia Neonatorum.
This disease, the duty of notifying which was, under the Public Health
(Ophthalmia Neonatorum) Regulations, 1926, placed solely upon the
medical practitioner in charge of the case, consists of a purulent discharge
from the eye of an infant occurring within 21 days of birth.
If not properly treated, Ophthalmia Neonatorum may cause blindness
or serious impairment of vision. It is due to a gonorrheal infection of the
child's eyes during birth. Infection is nearly always from the genital tract
and the mother should accordingly also undergo treatment.

The cases per 1,000 births numbered 17.3 in Shoreditch, as compared
with 10.2 for London as a whole. In addition to the cases notified, 59 cases
of inflammation of the eyes in the newly born were reported by the Medical
Officer of Health of the London County Council. This figure includes 4
cases subsequently notified as opthalmia neonatorum and included in the
foregoing table.
The Health Visitor does all that lies in her power to secure that the
child receives prompt and thorough treatment, and she keeps cases under
close observation until the eyes are cured.