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Nine cases of puerperal fever were notified, compared with 5, 3 and
6 for the three years preceding.
The case mortality was 33.3 per cent, compared with 90.0 per cent.
for 1918
Should a case of Puerperal Fever be notified it is carefully enquired
into by the Medical Officer of Health and the Health Visitor. Disinfection
is carried out, and every effort made to prevent further cases.
In addition to the above the following section of the rules of the
Central Midwives' Board was rigorously nforced
“ Whenever a midwife has been in attendance upon a patient
suffering from puerperal fever or from any other illness supposed to
be infectious, she must disinfect herself and all her instruments and
other appliances, to the satisfaction of the local Sanitary Authority,
and must have her clothing thoroughly disinfected before going to
another labour. Unless otherwise directed by the supervising
authority, all washable clothing should be boiled, and other clothing
should be sent to be stoved (by the local Sanitary Authority), and
then exposed freely to the open air for several days.
Ophthalmia Neonatorum.
This serious affection which attacks the eyes of newly-born infants
is caused by the entrance of certain bacteria into the eyes usually at the
time of birth, and if proper treatment is not applied immediately, the
eyes are permanently damaged and the child is rendered blind for life.
The extent to which this disease is prevalent in this country is
shown by the statements made by well-known authorities that over
one-third of the inmates of schools for the blind lost their sight as a
result of this disease. On the other hand, it is no less certain that, if
this disease is brought under efficient treatment when the symptoms
first make their appearance, the eyes can be saved from serious injury,
and the sight preserved.
Twenty-one cases were notified during the year, and were visited by
the Health Visitors. Three of the cases were in the East Ward, five
in the North Ward, four in the North-West Ward, three in the South
Ward, two in the South-West Ward and four in the South-East Ward.