[Report 1921] / Medical Officer of Health, Staffordshire County Council.

  • Staffordshire (England). County Council.
Date:
1921
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1921] / Medical Officer of Health, Staffordshire County Council. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    14/46 (page 13)
    As regards ophthalmia cases, the following figures indicate the degree of severit}^ of the cases reported during the past five 3^ears, ah of which were enquired into by the midwives’ inspectors :— Year Northern District Central District Southern District Cases Cases Cases Enqui¬ ries Slight Severe Enqui¬ ries Slight Severe i Enqui- i ries 1 Slight Severe 1917-18 27 14 13 ■ i 42 25 17 1918-19 20 10 10 1 14 9 5 1 22 11 11 1919-20 34 24 10 ! 29 24 5 i 22 12 10 1920 45 32 13 ! 30 23 7 i 23 14 9 1921 44 33 .. 11 24 17 7 i ! 28 12 16 Totals 170 113 57 ; 1 97 73 24 1 1 1 137 74 63 Apart from initial enquiries, special visits are paid in order to ascertain the conditions as regards the sight of each infant on the termination of the treatment. As regards the slight cases this year, complete recovery took place in every case. Of the 34 severe cases, 29 recovered without damage to sight, three died from other causes, while two cases only suffered, slight damage. With reference to the total cases, irrespective of severity, a clear history of venereal disease was established in six cases. Fifteen cases were removed to hospitals for treatment. • As regards the serious cases among the survivors during the past five years, 126 in number, only four suffered perma¬ nent damage, cue having lost the sight of one eye and the remaining three of both eyes. In addition to the routine enquiries, 27 reported irregu¬ larities were specially investigated. Of these, ten were dealt with by letters of caution from the County I\Iedical Officer of Health ; two cases were dealt with by the local Supervising Authority, in one case the midwife was severely censured, whilst in the other case_ the Local Supervising Authority agreed to allow the midwife to relinquish her certificate at the expiration of the cases in which she was engaged; three midwives were reported to the Central Midwives’ Board-; and in twelve cases circumstances did not warrant any action