London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
East Ham 1927
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for East Ham]
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66
Ophthalmia Neonatorum.
Ophthalmia Neonatorum (i.e., inflammation of the eyes of
new-born babies) has in past years been terribly injurious to the
sight of infants who contracted it, frequently leaving them permanently
blind; and every effort is now made to control and
eradicate this disease, under Regulations for its notification that
came into force in October, 1926. Any doctor attending such a
case is required to notify it to the Medical Officer of Health. A
midwife meeting the case of an infant having discharging eyes is
required to summon a doctor, who then becomes responsible for
notification, if he diagnose this disease. The information is passed
by the Medical Officer of Health to the Medical Officer of the
Child Welfare Department, and she keeps the case under observation,
directly or through one of the Health Visitors.
During 1927, 10 cases of Ophthalmia Neonatorum were notified in East Ham, with results of treatment as shown in the following table :—
| Notified. Case No | Treated. | Vision Unimpaired. | Vision Impaired. | Total Blindness. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| At Home. | At Hospital or Clinic. | ||||
| 1 | — | 1 | 1 | — | — |
| 2 | 1 | -__ | 1 | — | - |
| 3 | - | 1 | 1 | — | - |
| 1 | — | 1 | — | — | |
| 5 | — | 1 | 1 | — | — |
| 6 | 1 | — | 1 | — | — |
| 7 | — | 1 | 1 | — | — |
| 8 | — | 1 | 1 | — | — |
| 9 | 1 | — | 1 | — | — |
| 10 | 1 | — | 1 | - | - |
One case was treated at St. Margaret's Hospital (Metropolitan
Asylums Board), the Borough Council meeting the cost.
Free Milk.
Under the Council's Scheme £900 worth of free milk was
given to expectant and nursing mothers and young children during
the past year. In every case careful investigation of the family
circumstances is made, to secure that only really necessitous cases
shall receive this benefit.
Voluntary Associations.
Thanks are again gratefully accorded to the Invalid Children's
Aid Association for arranging periods of convalescence in the