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Both cases made an uneventful recovery. No cases were reported
during 1955.
It is not so long ago since each case of puerperal pyrexia
was regarded as a serious event Indeed the death rate from
puerperal causes was tragically high only a few years ago. Nowadays
puerperal pyrexia is seldom due to septic causes being
normally attributable to some intercurrent cause such as influenza
a head cold or even constipation This is an indication of the
revolutionary change which has taken place within the last decade
in the care of mothers during and after pregnancy Several factors
have contributed to this happy state fundamental advances in
midwifery closer supervision, effective liaison between general
practitioner, hospital, domiciliary midwives and clinic and the
introduction of antibiotics. Puerperal sepsis as against a rise
in temperature during the puerperium (the official designation
of "puerperal pyrexia") is seldom encountered This explains why
the death of a mother during or after childbirth is now looked
upon almost as a rarity.
Smallpox
No case of smallpox occurred in Wood Green during 1956 nor
were any doubtful cases reported.
It is once again my pleasure to report that the numbers of
mothers bringing their infants to child welfare clinics in Wood
Green for vaccination and the number of mothers requesting the
same service from their family doctor, is still increasing. The
latest figures show that the number of children under the age of
two years who have been protected against smallpox by vaccination,
either at clinics or by the family doctor, is now upwards of 60%
When compared with the tiny percentages which held not so many
years ago, these figures can be allowed to speak for themselves.
Tuberculosis
Sixty-three cases of tuberculosis (55 pulmonary,8 non-pulmonary)
were notified during the year, as against 67 cases in 1955
of the 63 cases, 26 were transferred from other districts, 37 being
new cases.