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The question of the provision of Home Helps was also
undergoing consideration at the end of 1919 in connection with
the Council's Maternity and Child Welfare Scheme, and it is
hoped that practical steps will be taken in the coming year,
which will result in a much-needed service of efficient and
experienced women being available for the needs of the
Borough.
In accordance with the instruction contained in the
memorandum of the Ministry of Health as to contents and
arrangement of annual reports of Medical Officers of Health,
details of the incidence of puerperal fever, ophthalmia
neonatorum, measles, whooping cough, epidemic diarrhoea,
polio-myelitis, etc., are set out in this section of the report.
Puerperal Fever.
Eleven cases of puerperal fever were notified in Battersea
during the year 1919, and four deaths were registered from
the disease, giving a case-mortality of 37 per cent. The
death-rate was 0.025 per 1,000 population. The four deaths
from puerperal fever were distributed as follows: East
Battersea, two; North-West Battersea, two; South-West
Battersea, nil.
Ophthalmia Neonatorum.
During 1919 in the Borough of Battersea 78 cases of
ophthalmia neonatorum were notified, as compared with 34 in
1918.
Visits are at cnce made, on receipt of notification, to
the homes of children suffering from this serious infectious
disease of the eyes. Steps are taken to see that nursing
attendance is provided by arrangement with the South London
Nursing Association if the case is being treated at home.
Eight cases were removed to the Metropolitan Asylums Board
Hospitals, and the majority of the other cases were attending
as out-patients at General Hospitals.
Acute Polio-Myelitis.
Six cases of acute polio-myelitis were notified in Battersea
during 1919, as against two cases in 1918. Four cases were
removed to hospital. No deaths were reported from this cause
during the year.
Diarrhœa.
During 1919 the number of deaths from diarrhoea and
enteritis registered as belonging to the Borough of Battersea
was 45. The death-rate was '28 per 1,000. Of the 45 deaths