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37
PUERPERAL FEVER.
This disease is compulsorily notifiable by Section 55 of the
Public Health (London) Act, 1891. In 1913, there were 13 notifications
and 5 deaths. The statistics for previous years are
appended:—

This year, the number of notifications is the highest since the
formation of the borough.
The thirteen cases in the present year were attended, seven by
medical students from St. Bartholomew's Hospital, two by a
certified midwife, and four by private doctors.
The associated causes and conditions were said to be : retained
afterbirth (3), post partum hæmorrhage (2), miscarriage or
abortion (2), decomposed foetus (1), and premature birth one case.
In four instances no cause was ascertained; these were possibly
cases where there had been want of care or cleanliness by the
persons in attendance. At the present time, there is no definition
of puerperal fever, so that the notification of the disease is in a
very unsettled condition. It is very probable that all the cases,
which occur in the Borough, are not notified.
In Finsbury, every case is investigated by the Lady Sanitary
Inspector. The premises are visited, the sanitary defects are ascertained,
and made the subject of subsequent notice for amendment.
The rooms are disinfected.