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The work of the four health visitors is, in a sense, of a dual
nature. They act as a link between the voluntary welfare centres
and the Public Health Department on the one hand, and on the
other are responsible, each in one Parliamentary Division for
visits to notified cases of ophthalmia neonatorum and puerperal
pyrexia, as well as for visiting all cases of measles not officially
notified. In addition they visit and report upon the home
conditions and preparations for the coming baby in all ante-natal
cases applying for admission to the Council's Maternity Home,
as well as for in-patient or out-patient treatment in confinement by
any hospital or lying-in home whose lady almoner writes for the
information. Their duties include the investigation of a number
of stillbirths and the deaths of young children, and the rendering
of help and advice generally in connection with cases of zymotic
enteritis, and they pay innumerable other visits for various purposes
of health instruction in the homes to those who do not fall into one
or other of the above categories.
Puerperal Fever and Puerperal Pyrexia.
Inquiries were made into the circumstances surrounding the
69 cases of Puerperal Fever and Puerperal Pyrexia notified.
In only 4 cases were particulars unobtainable and out of the
remaining 65 cases 39 were primiparae and 25 multiparae. As
previous records also show there appears to be greater danger to the
mother with the first birth than with subsequent deliveries.
The following groups of diseases were ascertained after investigation
to be the cause of the Fever or Pyrexia. Uterine sepsis 23,
manual interference forceps, etc., 11, pyelitis and cystitis 7 ; mastitis
6, septic abortion 5, dental caries 2, vaginal discharge during
pregnancy 1,post-partum haemorrhage l,and coryza,influenza,etc.,
13. The high proportion of uterine sepsis cases proved to be due to
Streptococcus Haemolyticus, is to some extent accountable no doubt
to the increase in the number of cases of scarlet fever notified.
Health Propaganda.
Throughout the year four thousand copies of "Better Health"
(the Official Journal of the Central Council for Health Education)
were distributed each month free to the Welfare Centres, the Public